must-win

American

[muhst-win] / ˈmʌstˈwɪn /

noun

a contest, project, scheme, etc., of which a successful or victorious outcome is essential because anything less would negate all preceding efforts.

This game is a must-win for the Tigers, who will be out of the pennant race if they lose.
Her grades were good enough for any college, but she knew the entrance essay was her must-win.

adjective

(of a contest, project, scheme, etc.) requiring a successful or victorious outcome because anything less would negate all preceding efforts.

We’re now in a must-win situation—we either come in with the most attractive bid or we lose the building contract.

Etymology

Origin of must-win

First recorded in 1985–90; noun use of phrase must win

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.

In September 2007, Moody faced Tonga in a must-win Rugby World Cup pool-stage match for England.

From BBC

Given that Hearts are proving so impossibly stubborn at the top of the Scottish Premiership, refusing, it seems, to do what is expected of them by the old order and kindly going away, the pressure returns to Rangers and Celtic in Sunday's must-win to end all must-wins.

From BBC

Chasing 187, they were bowled out for 111 - a result which left them in near must-win territory as they headed to Chennai.

From BBC

"For us, every match is a must-win from here," said Kotak.

From Barron's

A season of frustratingly unfortunate events for USC had led here, to this nightmarish crescendo at the one-minute mark Saturday, in a must-win matchup.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023