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.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

have to

"The lives of Afghan women have to change because we're losing hope."

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

"I have to start over," he said mournfully.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

U.S. carriers aren’t scheduled to resume services to Israel until the fall at the earliest, meaning that Americans have to find other ways to get there, often transiting through Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Most people who qualify for legal residency, or a green card, have to serve that 10-year ban before they can apply for a green card, which can lead to citizenship.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

They have to learn the right posture, tone of voice, and mannerisms needed so that they aren’t perceived as a threat.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold