must-have
Americannoun
adjective
noun
adjective
Etymology
Origin of must-have
First recorded in 1835–40; noun use of verb phrase must have
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.
“I loved these machines when we would go to the zoo. It was a must-have every time.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary this year as artificial intelligence challenges the legendary company to prove it can deliver yet another must-have innovation.
From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026
Growing up, it was a must-have treat after long trips with my mom to the local shopping mall.
From Salon ● Apr. 28, 2026
Paramount is planning to merge its Paramount+ service with Warner Bros' HBO Max to create what it hopes would be a must-have streaming service that can hold its own against competitors Netflix, Amazon and Disney.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
One other discovery by a European laboratory would help to establish the cyclotron as a must-have apparatus for physics research.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
