must
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
How often you will meet it
Rank 95 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 262,819 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.125% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 100 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
modal verb
- used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
must in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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It is to this charge he now feels he must make answer.
The Red Record Tabulated Statistics · Ida B. Wells-Barnett · Chapter 1
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The fellow must be at least twenty years younger than she is!
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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From all Judea, aye, from th' distant land, Each Bethlehemite must come at his command.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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He must get the girl and the chaperon off his hands, and be at his business.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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After three years of active service he must reside two more at the convent, and can then be made a commander.
A Knight of the White Cross · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1