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Definitions

must-have

[muhst-hav] / ˈmʌstˈhæv /
ADJECTIVE
essential
Synonyms
STRONGEST
critical essential fundamental indispensable necessary required requisite vital
NOUN
something considered necessary
Synonyms
STRONGEST
must necessity precondition prerequisite sine qua non

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.

Rams coach Sean McVay, West Coast area scout Vito Gonella and director of scouting strategy James Gladstone identified Nacua as a must-have addition to a team coming off a horrendous 2022 Super Bowl hangover.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

And while it didn’t exactly fly off the shelves, its concurrence with the height of the Seattle grunge music scene made the disheveled aesthetic a street-style must-have.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Paramount is expected 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 • Feb. 27, 2026

Considering the 6,326-pound curb weight, the adaptive air suspension seems like a must-have.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 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