Main Entry: ¹have

Pronunciation: \ˈhav, (h)əv, v; in “have to” meaning “must” usually ˈhaf\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): had \ˈhad, (h)əd, d\; hav·ing \ˈha-viŋ\; has \ˈhaz, (h)əz, z, s; in “has to” meaning “must” usually ˈhas\

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English habban; akin to Old High German habēn to have, and perhaps to hevan to lift — more at heave

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb 1 a : to hold or maintain as a possession, privilege, or entitlement <they have a new car> <I have my rights> b : to hold in one's use, service, regard, or at one's disposal <the group will have enough tickets for everyone> <we don't have time to stay> c : to hold, include, or contain as a part or whole <the car has power brakes> <April has 30 days>
2 : to feel obligation in regard to —usually used with an infinitive with to <we have things to do> <have a deadline to meet>
3 : to stand in a certain relationship to <has three fine children> <we will have the wind at our backs>
4 a : to acquire or get possession of : obtain <these shoes are the best to be had> b : receive <had news> c : accept; specifically : to accept in marriage d : to copulate with
5 a : to be marked or characterized by (a quality, attribute, or faculty) <both have red hair> <has a way with words> b : exhibit, show <had the gall to refuse> c : use, exercise <have mercy on us>
6 a : to experience especially by submitting to, undergoing, or suffering <I have a cold> b : to make the effort to perform (an action) or engage in (an activity) <have a look at that cut> c : to entertain in the mind <have an opinion>
7 a : to cause or command to do something —used with the infinitive without to <have the children stay> b : to cause to be in a certain place or state <has people around at all times>
8 : allow <we'll have no more of that>
9 : to be competent in <has only a little French>
10 a : to hold in a position of disadvantage or certain defeat <we have him now> b : to take advantage of : trick, fool <been had by a partner>
11 : bear 2a <have a baby>
12 : to partake of <have dinner> <have a piece>
13 : bribe, suborn <can be had for a price>verbal auxiliary 1 —used with the past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect <has gone home> <had already eaten> <will have finished dinner by then>
2 : to be compelled, obliged, or required —used with an infinitive with to or to alone <we had to go> <do what you have to> <it has to be said>

— had better or had best : would be wise to

— have at : to go at or deal with : attack

— have coming : to deserve or merit what one gets, benefits by, or suffers <he had that coming>

— have done : finish, stop

— have done with : to bring to an end : have no further concern with <let us have done with name-calling>

— have had it 1 : to have had or have done all one is going to be allowed to
2 : to have experienced, endured, or suffered all one can

— have it : assert, claim <rumor has it that he was drunk>

— have it in for : to intend to do harm to

— have it out : to settle a matter of contention by discussion or a fight

— have none of : to refuse to have anything to do with

— have one's eye on 1 a : to look at b : to watch constantly and attentively
2 : to have as an objective

— have to do with 1 : to deal with <the story has to do with real people — Alice M. Jordan>
2 : to have a specified relationship with or effect on <the size of the brain has nothing to do with intelligence — Ruth Benedict>