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Must

Something that is mandatory or required.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Must"

noun

1
Something that is mandatory or required.
"If you'll be out all day, a map is a must."

verb

1
(modal auxiliary, defective) To do with certainty; indicates that the speaker is certain that the subject will have executed the predicate.
"If it has rained all day, it must be very wet outside."
2
(modal auxiliary, defective) To do as a requirement; indicates that the sentence subject is required as an imperative or directive to execute the sentence predicate, with failure to do so resulting in a negative consequence.
"This door handle must be rotated fully."
3
(modal auxiliary, defective) said about something that is very likely, probable, or certain to be true
"The children must be asleep by now."

🔄 Synonyms of "Must"

5 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
needverb	(transitive) To have an absolute requirement for.
haveverb	(transitive) To possess, own.
oughtverb	(auxiliary, formal, dated) Indicating duty or obligation.
shouldnoun	Ought to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable.
have gotverb	(transitive, idiomatic, especially UK) To have.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Must"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
essentialnoun	Necessary.
oughtverb	(auxiliary, formal, dated) Indicating duty or obligation.
needverb	(transitive) To have an absolute requirement for.
shouldnoun	Ought to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable.
have gotverb	(transitive, idiomatic, especially UK) To have.
haveverb	(transitive) To possess, own.
requirementnoun	A necessity or prerequisite; something required or obligatory. Its adpositions are generally of in relation to who or what has given it, on in relation to whom or what it is given to, and for in relation to what is required.
necessarynoun	Required, essential, whether logically inescapable or needed in order to achieve a desired result or avoid some penalty.
needsnoun	(archaic) Either directly or indirectly preceded or followed by an auxiliary verb, often must: of necessity or need; necessarily, indispensably.
necessitynoun	The quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite.
probably	In all likelihood.
neededverb	Necessary; being required.
requiredverb	Necessary; obligatory; mandatory.
guessverb	To reach a partly (or totally) unconfirmed conclusion; to engage in conjecture; to speculate.
imperativenoun	Essential; crucial; extremely important.
important	Having relevant and crucial value; having import.
importancenoun	The quality or condition of being important or worthy of note.
mandatorynoun	obligatory; required or commanded by authority.
attributable	Capable of being attributed.
conformverb	(transitive, intransitive) To adapt to something by more closely matching it, especially something normative.