a must

Idioms  

1. A necessity; a requirement. For example, The Louvre is a must for visitors to Paris, or This book is a must for serious students of English. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Nikki Beauchamp, a real-estate broker based in New York City who travels regularly for work and pleasure, says checking a bag is a must for her in many instances.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Archibald said that while there is industrial logic to pursuing midstream growth, she doesn’t think having an integrated production chain is a must for success in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Buying your own private island off the Welsh coast does not necessarily require a lottery win, but waterproofs are a must if you are to negotiate low tide back to the mainland.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

But when it comes to financing capital-intensive GPUs and data centers, debt is a must, Intrator suggested.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

He believed discipline and rules were a must for children, especially young boys—and especially those growing up in Birmingham, Alabama.

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

Related Words

• mandatory
• necessary
• obligatory
• required