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

We didn’t have to convince our colleagues to go along with us.

From Slate • May 12, 2026

And if the patch shortage means we have done our jobs in getting the word out that women don’t have to suffer, then so be it.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

Under current rules, 80 MPs would have to nominate a specific opponent, which would then trigger a leadership election lasting weeks or months, conducted among the 350,000 or so registered Labour Party members.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

You have to find new ways to speak to them.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

“But if you’re applying, maybe I’ll have to reconsider.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam