must

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈməst 

1

: an imperative need or duty : requirement

Finishing by tomorrow is a must.

2

: an indispensable item : essential

Exercise is a must.

must

2 of 4

noun (2)

: the expressed juice of fruit and especially grapes before and during fermentation

also : the pulp and skins of the crushed grapes

must

3 of 4

noun (3)

1

: musk

2

: mold entry 3, mustiness

musth

4 of 4

noun (4)

ˈməst 

variants or less commonly must

: a periodic state of the bull elephant characterized especially by aggressive behavior and usually connected with the rutting season

Synonyms of must

Noun (1)

• requirement
• necessity
• need
• necessary

Examples of must in a Sentence

Noun (1)

exercise is a must if you want to stay healthy

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That’s why having a stash of low-lift recipes under your belt is a must. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 5 June 2026

For breakfast, the Mai Tai flapjacks, served with Kula rum butter syrup, honey passionfruit foam, and island pineapple, are a must-order. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

Noun

The male is thought to be in musth. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026

Researchers are also curious whether changes in musth over time could offer clues about what contributed to mammoths’ demise and eventual extinction roughly 4,000 years ago. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin mustum

Noun (3)

Middle English (Scots) moist, from Middle French must, alteration of musc musk

Noun (4)

Hindi & Urdu mast intoxicated, from Persian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (4)

1878, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing must

• if someone must
• if you must know
• I must love you and leave you
• must-have
• must not
• must-see
• the show must go on
• you/he/she must be joking

Rhymes for must

• bused
• bust
• crust
• cussed
• dust
• fussed
• fust
• gust
• just
• lust
• maist
• mussed

Kids Definition

must

1 of 2 helping verb

məs(t) 

ˈməst

present & past all persons must

1

: is commanded, requested, or urged to

the train must stop

you must read that book

2

: is forced, required, or obliged to

leaves must fall

one must eat to live

we must be quiet

3

: is determined to

if you must go

4

: is very likely to

it must be time

must have lost it

5

: is certain to

the bus must be coming

must

2 of 2 noun

ˈməst 

: something required or absolutely necessary

new shoes are a must

Medical Definition

must

noun

ˈməst 

: the expressed juice of fruit and especially grapes before and during fermentation