must

Meaning

Verb

1. (auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participle) 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 failure or negative consequence.
2. (auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participle) To do with certainty; indicates that the speaker is certain that the subject will have executed the predicate.
3. (auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participle) Used to indicate that something is very likely, probable, or certain to be true.

Noun

Something that is mandatory, required or recommended.

Noun

1. (auxiliary, countable, defective, modal, uncountable) The property of being stale or musty.
2. (auxiliary, countable, defective, modal, uncountable) Something that exhibits the property of being stale or musty.
3. (auxiliary, countable, defective, modal, uncountable) Fruit juice that will ferment or has fermented, usually from grapes.

Noun

Alternative spelling of musth.

Opposite of

no-no

Synonyms

have to

should

ought to

ought

need to

shall

need

have

mold

will

necessary

mould

require

mustiness

necessity

may

obligated

supposed to

owe

prerequisite

requirement

moldiness

it is necessary

want

be necessary

essential

new wine

obligation

obliged

grape juice

stalemate

sufficient

take

unfermented grape juice

gram. imperative

be to

I hope

must be

must have

obliged to

wort

I am sure

no doubt that

something that deserves attention

musth

be compelled

is necessary

airless

future imperative

be

Translations

devoir

müssen

dovere

deber

moeten

moût

dever

tener que

mosto

mosto

πρέπει

mosto

horen

sollen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmʌst/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: moste

Inherited from Old English: mōste

Cognate with Dutch: moest

Cognate with German: musste

Cognate with Swedish: måste

Inherited from Middle English: must

Inherited from Old English: must

In summary

From Middle English moste ("must", literally, "had to", the past tense of Middle English moten (“to have to”)), from Old English mōste (“had to”), 1st & 3rd person singular past tense of mōtan (“to be allowed, be able to, have the opportunity to, be compelled to, must, may”), from Proto-Germanic *mōtaną. Cognate with Dutch moest (“had to”), German musste (“had to”), Swedish måste (“must, have to, be obliged to”). More at mote.

Sentences

If you want it , you must take it .

The best of friends must part .

Everybody must row with the oars he has .

He must know how to make rain and drive away the locusts .

The time must have been somewhere around six o'clock .

What can't be cured must be endured .