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 verb1 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 with5 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 auxiliary1—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 to2: 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 attentively2: 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>