have to

Idioms  

1. Also, have got to. Be obliged to, must. For example, We have to go now, or He has got to finish the paper today. The use of have as an auxiliary verb to indicate obligation goes back to the 16th century; the variant using got dates from the mid-1800s.

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Example Sentences

In any case even if Burnham wins the nomination to stand he would have to overcome a challenging hurdle in a seat where despite his having local links Reform UK have high hopes of winning.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

If retailers aren’t getting the sales figures they’re hoping for, they’ll have to become “very aggressive” with price cuts in Fourth of July sales, Cohen said.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

“Because we care for our patients, we have to scale with safety,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

“To know what you want to do next you have to have the intention, but you also have to fill yourself up,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

I have to give myself every opportunity I can.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith