have to
Cannot avoid it
Have to expresses necessity or obligation: I have to leave by six, You have to see this movie.
It functions like must but is far more common in everyday speech.
The past tense had to works where must cannot: We had to wait an hour.
In casual speech, have to often softens to "hafta." Don't have to means something isn't required: You don't have to apologize.
- mustObligatory requirement
- needEssential requirement
- requiredNeeded by rule
- imperativeUnavoidably necessary
- do or dieRequiring total commitment
inescapable · essential · mandatory · obligation · unavoidable · no choice · coerced · gotta · necessity · should · prerequisite · enforced · compelled · non-negotiable · compulsory · supposed · crunch · under the gun