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Synonyms

must-have

American  
[muhst-hav] / ˈmʌstˈhæv /

noun

  1. something considered absolutely necessary or essential to own.

    This cookbook is a must-have for chocolate lovers.

adjective

  1. essential to own.

    a must-have black cocktail dress.
must-have British  

noun

  1. an essential possession

    the mobile phone is now a must-have for children
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. essential

    a must-have fashion accessory
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

The must-have item in Silicon Valley is a $178 sweater with a CEO’s face.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

Twenty years ago, the must-have entertainment accessory was the iPod, and Netflix customers had to wait for DVDs to arrive in the mail.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

McKinnon has become the must-have name in figure skating couture, dressing the entirety of the U.S. and South Korea women’s teams.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Fallow deer were first introduced by the Romans in small numbers, and the species expanded under the Normans when owning a deer park was a must-have for any self-respecting nobleman.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025

Climbing trees is a must-have skill for survival—particularly if there is a predator, such as a leopard,around.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh

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.