must

¹must

verb \məs(t), ˈməst\

present & past all persons must

Definition of MUST

verbal auxiliary

1

a : 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>

3

a : 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 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 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 — Shakespeare>

Examples of MUST

1. <we must be quiet during the performance>

Origin of MUST

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to MUST

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

Related Words: will

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Rhymes with MUST

bust, crust, dust, gust, just, lust, musth, rust, thrust, trust