a must

Idioms  

1. A necessity; a requirement. For example, The Louvre is a must for visitors to Paris, or This book is a must for serious students of English. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Expect to do a lot of walking — comfortable shoes are a must — but the sheer variety of vehicles and exhibits makes it easy to spend hours exploring.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

Prestigious programs aren’t a must, college counselors say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Buying your own private island off the Welsh coast does not necessarily require a lottery win, but waterproofs are a must if you are to negotiate low tide back to the mainland.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

But when it comes to financing capital-intensive GPUs and data centers, debt is a must, Intrator suggested.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

When I’m in town, I invariably sit talking by the hour with my old friend Yama, the God of Death, and a private phone’s a must for our little chats.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• mandatory
• necessary
• obligatory
• required