have

verb

\ˈhav,

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

had\ˈhad,

(h)əd, d \; having\ˈha-viŋ

\; has\ˈhaz,

(h)əz, z, s; in "has to" meaning "must" usually ˈhas \

Definition of have

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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 dohave a deadline to meet

3 : to stand in a certain relationship to has three fine children we will have the wind at our backs

4a : 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

5a : 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

6a : 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

7a : 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

10a : 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 sense 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 homehad already eatenwill have finished dinner by then

2 : to be compelled, obliged, or required —used with an infinitive with to or to alone we had to godo what you have toit 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

1a : 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

have

noun

\ˈhav

Definition of have (Entry 2 of 2)

: one that is well-endowed especially in material wealth the haves and have-nots

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about have

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Synonyms & Antonyms for have

Synonyms: Verb

command, enjoy, hold, own, possess, retain

Synonyms: Noun

capitalist, Croesus, deep pocket, fat cat, money, moneybags, plutocrat, silk stocking

Antonyms: Verb

lack, want

Antonyms: Noun

have-not, pauper

Examples of have in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Karl Lagerfeld, who became Chanel’s creative director in 1983, played a direct role in marketing these products as must-haves for the elite. — Nadra Nittle, Vox, "Chanel is the latest in a wave of fashion designers to part ways with fur," 5 Dec. 2018 Kylie has selected her favorite shades from previously sold-out and limited edition collections, as well as must-haves from existing palettes, to give you guys the perfect selection of shimmer, matte and satin shadows! — Marci Robin, Allure, "Kylie Cosmetics Is Launching 28 Eye Shadow Singles for Its First-Ever Customizable Palette," 7 Sep. 2018 The spring fashions at this shop feature fresh brilliant colors, dramatic silhouettes and innovative details like fluttering ruffles and bold inverted pleats and are all made in the U.S.A. J.Crew is also filling its racks with spring must-haves. — chicagotribune.com, "Mark spring’s arrival with a trip to the square," 15 Apr. 2018 Pop into the new Kirna Zabête East Hampton shop for the best edits of Summer must haves from brands like Dolce and Gabbana and Chloé and trunk shows with indie labels like Miaou Jeans, Shellouch Jewelry and Bonnie Young throughout the summer. — Natasha Huang Smith, Harper's BAZAAR, "Your 2017 Hamptons Summer Guide," 14 July 2017 The Borders Between Online and Offline Will Dissolve Retail is increasingly the world of the haves and the have nots. — Leigh Kamping-carder, WSJ, "Casper Co-Founder Predicts the Death of (Bad) Retail," 21 Nov. 2018 Egypt’s security and intelligence services haves lists of Palestinians allegedly involved in the Islamic insurgency and anti-government attacks during the 2011 uprising that forced longtime President Hosni Mubarak to step down. — Washington Post, "Egypt’s president announces Rafah crossing open for Ramadan," 18 May 2018 Come with a list and have a pretty good idea of your top wish-list items, as well as a must-haves list. — Pat Setter, sandiegouniontribune.com, "How to choose pre-move upgrades on a new house," 3 Mar. 2018 Wellingtons and Barbour coats are must-haves for Elbvororte homeowners, says Angelika Schlulz, who, with her husband, retired shipping-company executive Axel Schulz, is selling the family’s Elbvororte estate for $7.3 million. — J.s. Marcus, WSJ, "Germany’s Second City Hits New High in Modern Luxury Living," 17 Oct. 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.