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.
Having a good contractor on call is now a must-have for companies building power plants, and they are willing to pay up for them.
From Barron's • May 4, 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
The must-have item in Silicon Valley is a $178 sweater with a CEO’s face.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026
But in the past six months or so, it has become the must-have host for private, “always-on” AI agents, such as OpenClaw.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
“It's to sweep out bad spirits. A must-have for a new space. Much like how Lian is lighting incense on her new altar.”
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
