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Synonyms

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]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Reservations are a must for Australia games and Kiwi fans are welcome to make the bar their own, too.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Fixing the city's transport mess is a long-term project, says Schank, but making it easier to get to and from the airport is a must.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

For me, integrity is paramount and asking questions up-front is a must.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

Nikki Beauchamp, a real-estate broker based in New York City who travels regularly for work and pleasure, says checking a bag is a must for her in many instances.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 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

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