definitely must

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "definitely must" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the necessity or obligation of an action that is certain or assured. Example: "You definitely must attend the meeting tomorrow to discuss the project updates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Designing resilience, while it definitely must involve the best science, requires infrastructure that strengthens our physical and social realities together.

The Guardian

I want to stress here that, when engaging in struggle, we definitely must hold to struggle by reason.

The New York Times

Selig, the players and the fans alike must recognize that cheating is not acceptable and definitely must not be condoned, no matter what the excuse may be.

The New York Times

"This beef definitely must first be saved just for the central government leaders; only after they and their families have eaten it for 10 years should they deign to give it to us," Sky News recorded another as writing.

Independent

Suspending Austria's membership in the European Union might be a tough choice, but the union definitely must consider it, backed in every possible way by the United States and the rest of the democratic world.

The New York Times

Women are bombarded by bossy and contradictory diktats about what we definitely must or absolutely must not do with our reproductive organs, while companies such as Facebook offer egg-freezing as an employee perk.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

"My brother, definitely we must fight back".

The New Yorker

"This was definitely a must win," Allan Houston said.

The New York Times - Sports

Definitely, we must rebuild the World Trade Center towers.

The New York Times - Magazine

I think this book is definitely a "must have book".

The Guardian

This is definitely a must win for us.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the context to determine if a stronger or more formal alternative, such as "absolutely must" or "it is imperative to", might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "definitely must" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can diminish its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "certainly must" or "absolutely must" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "definitely must" functions as a modal verb phrase to express a strong sense of obligation or necessity. As Ludwig AI highlights, it combines the certainty of "definitely" with the obligation of "must", adding emphasis. The examples show its use in various contexts to convey the importance of an action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "definitely must" is a modal verb phrase used to emphasize obligation or necessity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While "must" alone conveys obligation, adding "definitely" strengthens the assertion. It's most common in news and media contexts, but also appears in scientific and Wiki articles. Related phrases include "absolutely must" and "certainly must". To avoid overuse, vary your language with synonyms. When the obligation is particularly crucial or non-negotiable, "definitely must" effectively communicates the importance of the action. Remember to consider your context and audience when deciding if a stronger or more formal alternative is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely must

Replaces "definitely" with "absolutely" for stronger emphasis.

certainly must

Substitutes "definitely" with "certainly", indicating assurance.

undoubtedly must

Uses "undoubtedly" to emphasize the lack of doubt about the necessity.

assuredly must

Employs "assuredly" to convey confidence in the obligation.

incontestably must

Replaces "definitely" with "incontestably" to convey a very strong sense of obligation that can't be disputed.

unquestionably must

Uses "unquestionably" to suggest the necessity is beyond any doubt.

without question must

Expresses the same certainty, but with a prepositional phrase.

it is imperative to

Shifts from a modal verb to a more formal construction using "imperative".

it is essential to

Replaces the modal verb construction with a phrase emphasizing the essential nature of the action.

it is vital to

Conveys necessity by highlighting the vital importance of the action.

FAQs

What does "definitely must" mean?

"Definitely must" expresses a strong obligation or necessity, indicating that something is essential and should not be avoided. It combines the certainty of "definitely" with the obligation of "must".

Is it redundant to say "definitely must"?

While "must" already implies obligation, "definitely must" adds emphasis to the certainty and importance of the obligation. The redundancy can be effective for conveying a stronger sense of necessity.

When should I use "definitely must" instead of just "must"?

Use "definitely must" when you want to emphasize the importance and certainty of an action. It's appropriate when the action is non-negotiable or crucial in a particular context. For example, "You "definitely must" proofread your work before submitting it" conveys a stronger message than simply "You must proofread your work".

What are some alternatives to "definitely must"?

You can use alternatives like "absolutely must", "certainly must", or "it is imperative to" depending on the context. These options provide similar emphasis on necessity and obligation.