have

verb \ ˈhav , (h)əv , v ; in "have to" meaning "must" usually ˈhaf \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of have

had play \ˈhad, (h)əd, d\; having play \ˈha-viŋ\; has play \ˈhaz, (h)əz, z, s; in "has to" meaning "must" usually ˈhas\

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

She asked if he had any news.

c : accept

so burnt no one would have a piece

; specifically : to accept in marriage

could find no one who would have him

d : to copulate with

claims to have had many women

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 3a

have a baby

12 : to partake of

have dinner

have a piece

13 : bribe, suborn

can be had for a price

auxiliary verb

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

had better go to bed

— have at

: to go at or deal with : attack

like two boxers having at each other

— have coming

: to deserve or merit what one gets, benefits by, or suffers

he had that coming

— have done

: finish, stop

wish you would have done before I go mad

— 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

He's been cheating me for years but now he's had it.

2 : to have experienced, endured, or suffered all one can

Her old beater has finally had it.

— 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

thinks they just need to have it out

— have none of

: to refuse to have anything to do with

We will have none of that.

— have one's eye on

1 a : to look at

b : to watch constantly and attentively

2 : to have as an objective

has her eye on a little cottage in the country

— 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

See have defined for English-language learners

See have defined for kids

Examples of have in a Sentence

Do they have a new car?
You can have it until I get back.
She has a red bike, and I have a blue one.
She got another part-time job and now she has two jobs.
I'm looking for the newspaper. Do you have it?
He had the newspaper right in his hand.
I used to have a necklace like that, but I lost it.
She used to share a room with her sister, but now she has her own room.
Have they got a new car?
We've got things to do.

Origin and Etymology of have

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

have Synonyms

Phrases

do a number on, lead one down the garden path (also lead one up the garden path), pull one's leg, pull the wool over one's eyes;

have

noun \ ˈhav \

Definition of have

: one that is well-endowed especially in material wealth

the haves and have-nots

Examples of have in a Sentence

a society that discriminates between the haves and the have-nots

Recent Examples of have from the Web

But the relationship between the haves and have-nots in America is anything but symbiotic.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Judgement and Epiphany on Pittsburgh’s Number 79 Bus," 11 May 2018
The main difference between the AK-74M and the AK-12/15 appears to be the new rifles are set up to accommodate weapon accessories that have become must-haves in modern, high-tech armies.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Russian Military Is Getting New Assault Rifles," 3 May 2018
The play's second act, a face-off between the haves and have-nots, features throat-catching dramatic revelations spiced with some poignant one-liners.

— tom titus, latimes.com, "On Theater: ‘Good People’ is rich in heart and humor at Chance Theater," 1 May 2018
Take a look at the standings and try not to wince over the disparity between the haves and the have-nots.

— jorge l. ortiz, USA TODAY, "MLB tanking: Nine teams that can wait 'til next year after a wretched first month," 24 Apr. 2018
The East is very much turning into a crop of haves and have-nots, and these two are right at the top of the former.

— avi creditor, SI.com, "The MLS XI, Week 7: Atlanta, NYCFC Dazzle; Zlatan Scores to Headline Weekend," 16 Apr. 2018
Marie Claire Fashion Editor-at-Large Alison Edmond presented collection must-haves, while co-hosts Maile Zambuto and Jenny Belushi of Joyful Heart shared the foundation’s empowering mission and inspired major sales.

— Marie Claire, "What Marie Claire Editors Want to Buy for Spring," 19 Sep. 2017
Two additional scenarios—one that gives you a very limited population to work with and one focused on the haves versus the have-nots—only spin the tough choices and motivate you toward civic efficiency further.

— steven strom, Ars Technica, "Frostpunk review: Urban planning at the end of the world," 24 Apr. 2018
Things are pretty good now, for the haves, and there aren’t many have-nots left.

— tom philip, GQ, "The Westworld Creators Are Working on Another Insane Sci-Fi Show," 17 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'have.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.