must Hear it!

must¹ Definition

must (must)

must

  1. used to express compulsion, obligation, requirement, or necessity I know I must pay her; I knew I must pay her
  2. used to express probability then you must be my cousin; I thought he must be my cousin
  3. used to express certainty or inevitability all men must die; they knew they must die

Etymology: ME moste, pt., had to < OE, pt. of motan, may, akin to Goth (ga)mot, (I) find room, am permitted, prob. < IE *mōt-, var. of *med-, to measure > mete

intransitive verb

used elliptically in the same functions as must () shoot if you must

noun

something that must be done, had, read, seen, etc. this book is a must

adjective

that must be done, etc.; necessary; essential must reading

must² Definition

must (must)

noun

a state of frenzy in animals, esp. in the male elephant, usually associated with sexual heat

Etymology: Hindi mast, intoxicated < Pers mast < IE base *mad-, to be moist > meat

adjective

in must

must³ Definition

must (must)

noun

the juice pressed from grapes or other fruit before it has fermented; new wine

Etymology: ME < OE < L mustum, new wine, neut. of mustus, new, fresh < IE base *meu-, moist > moss

must4 Definition

must (must)

noun

a musty quality or state; mustiness

Etymology: back-form. < musty

must* Synonyms

must*

n.

must Synonyms

must

v.

ought, should, have to, have got to, be compelled, be necessitated, be obliged, be required, be doomed, be destined, be ordered, be directed, be made, be driven, must needs*, have no choice*, be pushed to the wall*, be one's fate*; see also need.

must Usage Examples

Noun used with modifier

  • equipment: Lost Property All children's clothing, shoes, bags, PE equipment MUST be clearly marked.
  • word: Note that the spelling of the missing word MUST be correct.
must Quotes

   Alle anderen Dinge mu«  ssen; der Mensch ist das Wesen, welches will. All other things must; man is the being who wills.

—Schiller, Friedrich

Littleman, littleman! The word 'must' isnotto be usedto princes!

—Elizabeth I

Better to use force when you should rather than when you must.

—Shultz, George P(ratt)

Browse dictionary entries near must

  1. mussy
  2. Mussulman
  3. Mussorgsky
  4. Mussolini
  5. Musset
  6. mussel
  7. muss
  8. musquash
  9. muslin
  10. Muslim
  1. must-carry rules
  2. mustache
  3. mustachio
  4. Mustafa Kemal
  5. mustang
  6. mustard
  7. mustard gas
  8. mustard oil
  9. mustard plaster
  10. mustardy