Word forms: plural mustspronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (mʌst).Must is a modal verb. It is followed by the base form of a verb.
1. modal verb
You use must to indicate that you think it is very important or necessary for something to happen. You use must not or mustn't to indicate that you think it is very important or necessary for something not tohappen.
What you wear should be stylish and clean, and must definitely fit well.
You are going to have to take a certain amount of criticism, but you must cope withit.
The doctor must not allow the patient to be put at risk.
The soil must not be overwatered, especially during the first few weeks.
We must not forget your birthday.
2. modal verb
You use must to indicate that it is necessary for something to happen, usually because of a ruleor law.
Candidates must satisfy the general conditions for admission.
Mr Allen must pay Mr Farnham's legal costs.
Equipment must be supervised if children are in the house.
Synonyms: ought to, have to, should, need to More Synonyms of must
3. modal verb
You use must, or must have with a past participle, to indicate that you are fairly sure that something is the case.
At 29, Russell must be one of the youngest-ever Wembley referees.
I'm sure he must feel he has lost a close family friend, because I know I do.
I must have been a bore.
4. modal verb
You use must, or must have with a past participle, to indicate that you believe that something is the case, because of the available evidence.
'You must be Emma,' said the visitor.
Miss Holloway had a weak heart. She must have had a heart attack.
His only explanation was that he must have brought them home in order to continuehis work.
5. modal verb
If you say that one thing must have happened in order for something else to happen, you mean that it is necessary forthe first thing to have happened before the second thing can happen.
In order to take that job, you must have left another job.
To explain that thickness, it must have had a mass of 500 billion tons.
6. modal verb
You use must to express your intention to do something.
I must be getting back.
Listen. I must ask you something.
I must phone my parents.
I must speak to Tania at once.
He told the Prime Minister that he felt he must now leave.
7. modal verb
You use must to make suggestions or invitations very forcefully.
You must see a doctor, Frederick.
You must see the painting Paul has given me as a wedding present.
You must come to lunch with us.
You must visit me. Come to dinner.
8. modal verb
You use must in remarks and comments where you are expressing sympathy.
This must be a very difficult job for you.
You must be very worried by now.
Now sit down and make yourself comfortable. You must be very tired.
9. modal verb
You use must in conversation in expressions such as 'I must say' and 'I must admit' in order to emphasize a point that you are making.
[emphasis]
This came as a surprise, I must say.
I must admit I was slightly disappointed when I saw the letter.
They were very polite, I must confess.
10. modal verb
You use must in expressions such as 'it must be noted' and 'it must be remembered' in order to draw the reader's or listener's attention to what you are about to say.
It must be noted, however, that not all British and American officers carried outorders.
It must be stated that this illness is one of the most complex conditions known toman.
11. modal verb
You use must in questions to express your anger or irritation about something that someone has done, usually because you do not understand their behaviour.
[feelings]
Why must you do everything as if you have to win?
Why must she interrupt?
Must you always run when the pressure gets too much?
12. modal verb
You use must in exclamations to express surprise or shock.
[emphasis]
'Go! Please go.'—'You must be joking!'
I really must be quite mad!
You must have gone out of your mind!
13. countable noun
If you refer to something as amust, you mean that it is absolutely necessary.
[informal]
The new 37th issue of National Savings Certificates is a must for any taxpayer.
A must is a visit to the fascinating and world-renowned Motor Museum.
Synonyms: necessity, essential, requirement, duty More Synonyms of must
14.
See if you must
15.
See if you must know
More Synonyms of must
English Easy Learning GrammarMustMust is used to express obligation, give orders and give advice. It can only be usedfor present and future reference. When the past is involved, you use ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarModal verbsModal verbs are a particular kind of auxiliary. Look, I can do it! – Oh yes! So you can. Can I use your phone? – Of course you can. Do you think she will ... Read more
must-
(mʌst-)
combining form
Must- is added to verbs such as 'see', 'have', or 'read' to form adjectives and nouns which describe things that you think people should see, have, or read. For example, a must-have is something which you think people should get, and a must-win game is one which a team needs to win.
[journalism, informal]
...a list of must-see movies.
The Tugboat Saloon and Eatery is a must-visit.
must in British English1
(mʌst, unstressed məst, məs)
verb(takes an infinitive withoutto or an implied infinitive)
1.
used as an auxiliary to express obligation or compulsion: you must pay your dues. In this sense, must does not form a negative. If used with a negative infinitive it indicates obligatory prohibition
2.
used as an auxiliary to indicate necessity
I must go to the supermarket tomorrow
3.
used as an auxiliary to indicate the probable correctness of a statement
we must be there by now
4.
used as an auxiliary to indicate inevitability
all good things must come to an end
5. (used as an auxiliary to express resolution)
a.
on the part of the speaker when used with I or we
I must finish this
b.
on the part of another or others as imputed to them by the speaker, when used with you, he, she, they, etc
let them walk out if they must
6. (used emphatically)
used as an auxiliary to express conviction or certainty on the part of the speaker
he must have reached the town by now, surely
you must be joking
7. (foll by away)
used with an implied verb of motion to express compelling haste
I must away
noun
8.
an essential or necessary thing
strong shoes are a must for hill walking
Word origin
Old English mōste past tense of mōtan to be allowed, be obliged to; related to Old Saxon mōtan, Old High German muozan, German müssen
must in British English2
(mʌst)
noun
mustiness or mould
Word origin
C17: back formation from musty
must in British English3
(mʌst)
noun
the newly pressed juice of grapes or other fruit ready for fermentation
Word origin
Old English, from Latin mustum new wine, must, from mustus (adj) newborn
must in British English4
(mʌst)
noun
a variant spelling of musth
must- in British English
combining form
indicating that something is highly recommended or desirable
a must-see film
this season's must-haves
must in American English1
(mʌst)
auxiliary verbWord forms: 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
verb intransitive
4.
used elliptically in the same functions as must1 auxiliary verb.
shoot if you must
noun Informal
5.
something that must be done, had, read, seen, etc.
this book is a must
adjective Informal
6.
that must be done, etc.; necessary; essential
must reading
Word origin
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 > mete1
must in American English2
(mʌst)
noun
1.
a state of frenzy in animals, esp. in the male elephant, usually associated with sexual heat
adjective
2.
in must
Word origin
Hindi mast, intoxicated < Pers mast < IE base *mad-, to be moist > meat
must in American English3
(mʌst)
noun
the juice pressed from grapes or other fruit before it has fermented; new wine
Word origin
ME < OE < L mustum, new wine, neut. of mustus, new, fresh < IE base *meu-, moist > moss
must in American English4
(mʌst)
noun
a musty quality or state; mustiness
Word origin
back-form. < musty
More idioms containing
must
the mountain must go to Mohammed
Examples of 'must' in a sentence
must
You must be absolutely clear about your goals and the sacrifices required to get there.
The Sun (2016)
What you must avoid is going between the two.
The Sun (2016)
They say it must be my fault for stressing him out.
The Sun (2016)
Times change though and it is something we must look at.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You must be ready to make sacrifices.
The Sun (2016)
It really must be a love match!
The Sun (2016)
To be absolutely free from animal fat vegans must use only freshly minted coins.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The temptation to kick the problem into the long grass once again must be strong.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Your end product must comply with national policy and the adopted local plan.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Trusts must make sure they do not happen again.
The Sun (2016)
It must have been absolutely terrible for him.
The Sun (2014)
Something in that line must have been going on here.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
That is to say that consent must be truly and freely given.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You must find something that can take care of both.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You must be ready to compete with him.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He really must stop saving on gas.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In addition the language we use must be precise with no chance of a double meaning.
Samways, B. & Byrne-Jones, T. Computers Basic Facts (1983)
Good times must be returning to the property industry.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You must make sure the players have that resolve about them.
The Sun (2010)
You must also avoid touching your eyes after handling the plants.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We must take theology and move it to image.
Christianity Today (2000)
The government must also take strong measures to tackle the housing bubble.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We must secure a new deal and that will only be possible through a referendum.
The Sun (2014)
You must get consent from anyone in the photo.
The Sun (2013)
We must part again soon and you owe me no duties.
George Eliot Daniel Deronda (1876)
You must know much better people than me.
Peter McEvoy For Love or Money (2006)
You imply the other person must now agree with you.
Atkinson, Jacqueline M Coping with Stress at Work (1988)
The three numbers or letters must come from the same puzzle.
The Sun (2008)
Now the bank must wait to see if its shareholders and clients accept this explanation.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They had no idea how that dreadful attack was going to end and they must have feared the worst.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
must
British English: must /mʌst/ VERB
You use must to show that you think something is very important.
You must tell the police all the facts.
American English: must
Arabic: يَجِبُ
Brazilian Portuguese: dever
Chinese: 必须
Croatian: morati
Czech: muset
Danish: må
Dutch: moeten
European Spanish: deber obligación
Finnish: täytyä
French: devoir obligation
German: müssen
Greek: πρέπει
Italian: dovere
Japanese: ・・・しなければならない
Korean: ...해야 한다
Norwegian: må
Polish: musieć
European Portuguese: dever
Romanian: a trebui
Russian: быть обязанным
Latin American Spanish: deber tener que
Swedish: måste
Thai: ต้อง
Turkish: Zorunda olmak
Ukrainian: бути повинним
Vietnamese: phải bắt buộc
Chinese translation of 'must'
must
(mʌst)
aux vb
(expressing importance or necessity) 必须(須) (bìxū)
(expressing intention) 得 (děi)
(expressing forceful suggestion) 一定要 (yīdìng yào)
⇒ You must see my new guitar.你一定要看看我的新吉他。 (Nǐ yīdìng yào kànkan wǒ de xīn jítā.)
(expressing anger in question) 偏要 (piān yào)
⇒ Must you be so careless?你偏要这么粗心吗? (Nǐ piān yào zhème cūxīn ma?)
(expressing presumption) 一定 (yīdìng)
⇒ Russell must be one of the youngest ever Wembley referees.拉塞尔一定是温布利体育场上历来最年轻的裁判之一。 (Lāsāi'ěr yīdìng shì Wēnbùlì tǐyùchǎng shang lìlái zuì niánqīng de cáipàn zhī yī.)
⇒ He must have forgotten to pick up the tickets.他一定忘记去取票了。 (Tā yīdìng wàngjì qù qǔpiào le.)
(expressing sympathy) 一定 (yīdìng)
⇒ Sit down, you must be exhausted.坐吧,你一定累坏了。 (Zuò ba, nǐ yīdìng lèi huài le.)
(expressing surprise or shock)
you must be joking你准(準)是在开(開)玩笑 (nǐ zhǔn shì zài kāi wánxiào)
⇒ I must be mad!我准是疯了! (Wǒ zhǔn shì fēng le!)
n
to be a must (inf, = necessity) 是必备(備)之物 (shì bìbèi zhī wù)
⇒ Rubber gloves are a must if your skin is sensitive.橡胶手套对于敏感皮肤是必备之物。 (Xiàngjiāo shǒutào duìyú mǐngǎn pífū shì bìbèi zhī wù.)
the doctor must allow the patient to decide医(醫)生必须(須)让(讓)病人来(來)决(決)定 (yīshēng bìxū ràng bìngrén lái juédìng)
I really must be getting back我真得回去了 (wǒ zhēn děi huíqù le)
if you must (expressing reluctant agreement) 如果你坚(堅)持要 (rúguǒ nǐ jiānchí yào)
if you must know (expressing reluctance to tell sb sth) 如果你一定要知道的话(話) (rúguǒ nǐ yīdìng yào zhīdào de huà)