Standard Lemma guide

mustn't

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈmʌs.n̩t/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: M AH1 S AH0 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

Must not (negative auxiliary); used to indicate that something is forbidden or, in a tag question, that something is not necessary.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncommon

Examples

  • You mustn't blame yourself for this tragedy.
  • We must go, mustn't we?
  • 1906, Edith Nesbit, The Railway Children, Chapter 4: The engine-burglar, "Now, listen," said Mother; "it's quite true that we're poor, but we have enough to live on. You mustn't go telling everyone about our affairs--it's not right. And you must never, never, never ask strangers to give you things. Now always remember that--won't you?"

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From must + -n't.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: ne devas — something is forbidden
  • Māori: me kaua — something is forbidden
  • Polish: nie wolno — something is forbidden
  • Scots: maunna — something is forbidden