Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • Contraction of got to.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • phrase informal must; need to; be required to
  • phrase informal have a; have got a

Etymologies

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Examples

  • gotta love a strong kickbutt kinda gal though..gotta keep those men in check.

    You Can't Win if You Don't Play Shirley Damsgaard 2008

  • A lot of things gotta to be reconciled, I gotta really know where that brother stands and like I said the label gotta get their act together because they still haven't got their act together all they ever done, me and my management, is be humble about the situation and come in peace but I mean as the days go on we starting to see their little plan to phase me out of the Slum Village legacy and move on without me.

    XXL 2010

  • Now what McCain gotta say taking money from Lobbyist and Pac's when Sen Obama has instructed the DNC to do what he has already been doing and NOT take money from these special interest groups!

    Obama reacts to Clinton speech 2008

  • May 18th, 2009 at 12:02 am love it and title gotta have it very hot want to lick him up

    Ann Aguirre » Blog Archive » Totally Lickable 2009

  • Weather: Perfect Memorial Day weekend weather -- burnt the hell out of my pale (now red) skin -- gotta use sunblock.

    Archive 2005-05-29 Michael Evans 2005

  • Weather: Perfect Memorial Day weekend weather -- burnt the hell out of my pale (now red) skin -- gotta use sunblock.

    View from the Northern Border Michael Evans 2005

  • But instead of pushing the envelope and using that God awful word gotta or supposed to, just stop for a moment, give them a moment to breathe a little bit.

    CNN Transcript May 31, 2009 2009

  • Uhoh, Esther calls gotta go, plees sumbody pick up afta me?

    i has a cheezie - Lolcats 'n' Funny Pictures of Cats - I Can Has Cheezburger? 2008

  • I hate the phrase you gotta lose one to win one, but that's really what happened.

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2011

  • It's pretty confusing in which context i should use word gotta if you could tell me about it.

    Yahoo! Answers: Latest Questions 2009

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