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must

verb
\ məs(t), ˈməst How to pronounce must (audio) \
present tense and past tense, all persons must

Definition of must

 (Entry 1 of 4)

auxiliary verb

1a : be commanded or requested to you must stop
b : be urged to : ought by all means to you must read that book
2 : be compelled by physical necessity to one must eat to live : be required by immediate or future need or purpose to we must hurry to catch the bus
3a : be obliged to : be compelled by social considerations to I must say you're looking well
b : be required by law, custom, or moral conscience (see conscience sense 1) to we must obey the rules
c : be determined to if you must go at least wait for me
d : be unreasonably or perversely compelled to why must you argue
4 : be logically inferred (see infer sense 1) or supposed to it must be time
5 : be compelled by fate or by natural law to what must be will be
6 : was or were presumably certain to : was or were bound to if he did it she must have known
7 dialect : may, shall —used chiefly in questions

intransitive verb

archaic : to be obliged to go I must to Coventry— William Shakespeare

must

noun (1)
\ ˈməst How to pronounce must (audio) \

Definition of must (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : an imperative need or duty : requirement
2 : an indispensable item : essential exercise is a must

must

noun (2)

Definition of must (Entry 3 of 4)

: the expressed juice of fruit and especially grapes before and during fermentation also : the pulp and skins of the crushed grapes

must

noun (3)

Definition of must (Entry 4 of 4)

1 : musk
2 : mold, mustiness
Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about must

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Synonyms for must

Synonyms: Verb

have (to), need, ought (to), shall, should

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Examples of must in a Sentence

Verb

 we must be quiet during the performance

First Known Use of must

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

History and Etymology for must

Verb and Noun (1)

Middle English moste, from Old English mōste, past indicative & subjunctive of mōtan to be allowed to, have to; akin to Old High German muozan to be allowed to, have to

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin mustum

Noun (3)

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

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More Definitions for must

must

verb
How to pronounce must (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of must

—used to say that something is required by a rule or law
somewhat formal in US English —used to say that someone should do something
—used to say that something is very likely

See the full definition for must in the English Language Learners Dictionary

must

helping verb
\ ˈməst How to pronounce must (audio) \
present and past all persons must

Kids Definition of must

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to be commanded, requested, or urged to You must stop the noise at once.
2 : to be required to A person must eat to live.
3 : to be very likely to It must be time. I must have lost it.

must

noun

Kids Definition of must (Entry 2 of 2)

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