have

1 of 2

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

transitive verb

1

a

: to hold or maintain (something tangible or intangible) as a possession, privilege, entitlement, or responsibility

have a car

have an appointment

have a deadline

I have my rights

b

: to hold in one's use, service, regard, or at one's disposal

will have enough tickets for everyone

have no food or shelter

have no choice/alternative

Do you have a minute

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.

The list has my name on it.

2

: to feel obligation in regard to

—usually used with an infinitive with to

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

shoes that are the best to be had

b

: to receive or be given (something)

She asked if he had any news.

Can I have your attention?

c

: accept

was so burnt that 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 partners

5

a

: to be marked or characterized by (a quality, attribute, or faculty)

both have red hair

has a fear of snakes

has a way with words

b

: exhibit, show

had the gall to refuse

c

: use, exercise

have mercy on us

6

a(1)

: experience sense 1

having a wonderful time

(2)

: to experience especially by submitting to, undergoing, or suffering

have a cold

have a bad/long/tough day

having trouble

b

: to perform (an action) or engage in (an activity)

have a look at that cut

Did you have a good nap?

c

: to entertain in the mind

have an opinion

I have no idea.

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

had his hands in his pockets

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

c

: to know (as personal information) that could be used to compromise someone

We have some dirt on him

11

: bear sense 3a

have a baby

12

: to partake of

have dinner

have a piece

I have my coffee black.

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

3

—used with got in the present perfect tense form with present meaning

She has got two jobs.

The list has got my name on it.

I haven't got the time to talk right now.

see also had better, have at, have coming, have done, have done with, have had it, have it, have it in for, have it out, have none of, have one's eye on, have to do with

have

2 of 2

noun

ˈhav 

: one that is well-endowed especially in material wealth

the haves and have-nots

Synonyms of have

Verb

• possess
• own
• retain
• enjoy

Noun

• money
• capitalist
• deep pocket

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

Verb

Players can also add the Double Play for an additional $1 to have a second chance at winning $10 million. —Chris Sims, IndyStar, 11 Dec. 2025

Cincinnati no doubt has its share of good cops. —Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2025

Noun

Based on the video game from Bethesda Game Studios, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025

This is not a problem of haves versus have-nots. —Eric Snoey, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English habban; akin to Old High German habēn to have, and perhaps to hevan to lift — more at heave entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1739, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing have

• as luck would have it
• be on/have a short fuse
• could have fooled me
• could have kicked himself
• could have sworn
• didn't have the heart
• don't have a clue
• don't have all day
• eat/have someone or something for lunch
• get/have a handle on
• get/have a line on
• get/have an eyeful
• get/have/gain a/the jump on
• get/have/make a late start
• get/have one's bell rung
• get/have one's wires crossed
• get/have the wind up
• had nothing to recommend him
• have a ball
• have a bash
• have a bee in one's bonnet
• have a bellyful of
• have a big heart
• have a big mouth
• have a blitz on
• have a bun in the oven
• have a chip on one's shoulder
• have a cow
• have a devilish time
• have a few
• have a few minutes/moments
• have a few too many
• have a field day
• have a finger in a/the/every pie
• have a fit
• have a fling at (something)
• have a frog in one's throat
• have against
• have a go
• have a go at
• have a good day
• have a (good) laugh about (something)
• have a good mind
• have a good one
• have a grip
• have a hand in
• have a hard time
• have a head for
• have a high opinion of (something)
• have a high regard for
• have a hollow ring
• have a horror of
• have a hunch
• have a leak
• have a leg up
• have (all) one's bases covered
• have (all) the earmarks
• have (all) the makings of
• have (all) the markings of
• have all the time in the world
• have a lock on
• have a look
• have a loose screw
• have a lot going for you
• have a lot in common
• have a lot to answer for
• have a low opinion of (something)
• have a memory/mind like a sieve
• have a mind of one's own
• have a minute/moment/second
• have a moan
• have an eye to/toward
• have a nice day
• have another thing coming
• have any/much success
• have anything/something to say about
• have a part in
• have a part to play
• have a problem with
• have a quick wash
• have a role to play
• have a rough time (of it)
• have a rummage
• have a screw loose
• have a seat
• have a snit
• have a soft spot
• have a stab at
• have a thin time (of it)
• have a try
• have a way of (being something or doing something)
• have a way with
• have a word in your ear
• have a word with (someone)
• have bearing on
• have designs on
• have differences
• have done with it
• have every intention of
• have eyes in the back of one's head
• have faith in
• have feelings for
• have/get a corner on
• have/get one's head (screwed) on right/straight
• have/get one's nose/snout in the trough
• have/get one's (own) way
• have/get the goods on
• have/get the last laugh
• have got
• have (got) news for (someone)
• have (got) nothing left to prove
• have got one's claws into
• have (got) someone or something covered
• have (got) (something) down to a science
• have (got) the time
• have got to
• have (got) to go
• have half a mind
• have/hold the lead
• have/hold/want no truck with
• have hysterics
• have ice water in her veins
• have in one's possession
• have issues
• have it coming (to one)
• have it good
• have it in mind
• have it in one
• have it made
• have it made in the shade
• have it one's (own) way
• have it on good/excellent authority
• have it over
• have it rough
• have its beginnings
• have its uses
• have/keep an/one's eye out for
• have/keep half an eye on
• have/keep one's feet on the ground
• have/keep one's guard up
• have/keep/put one's finger on the pulse of
• have/keep (something) up one's sleeve
• have kittens
• have/know all the answers
• have little to recommend it
• have mercy
• have mercy/pity
• have more than one string to one's bow
• have much to commend it
• have much to recommend it
• have no faith
• have no idea
• have no intention of
• have no interest in
• have no one to blame but oneself
• have no part in
• have no recollection
• have-not
• have nothing against
• have nothing in common
• have nothing on (someone)
• have no use for
• have no wish
• have on
• have one foot in the grave
• have one pair of hands
• have one's bell rung
• have one's cake and eat it
• have one's cake and eat it too
• have one's day in court
• have one's ducks in a row
• have one's hands full
• have one's head examined
• have one's heart set on (something)
• have one's hopes/sights fixed on
• have one's legs/feet/knees cut out from under (one)
• have one's moments
• have one's nose in
• have one's nose in the air
• have one's origin
• have one's tonsils out
• have one's way with
• have one's work cut out for one
• have (only) oneself to blame
• have other ideas
• have over
• have priority
• have/put one's hands in the till
• have/share more/less in common with
• have/share (something) in common
• have (someone) back
• have (someone) in the palm of one's hand
• have (someone) on a string
• have (someone or something) (all) to oneself
• have (someone or something) in mind
• have (someone or something) to thank for (something)
• have someone pegged
• have someone's back
• have someone's (best) interests at heart
• have someone's ear
• have someone's number
• have someone stumped
• have (someone) taped
• have some surprises up their sleeves
• have (something) (all) to oneself
• have (something) back
• have (something) going for one
• have (something) to spare
• have (something) written all over it
• have stars in one's eyes
• have/take a butcher's
• have/take a tinkle
• have/take a wander
• have/take a whack at
• have/take/get someone's measure
• have/take/get the measure of (someone)
• have/take precedence over
• have the appearance
• have the benefit of
• have the floor
• have the gall
• have the last word
• have the patience of a saint
• have (the) time
• have the time of one's life
• have the wind of
• have/throw/pitch a tantrum
• have to
• have to laugh
• have to say for oneself
• have trouble sleeping
• have what it takes
• have with
• hold/have promise
• I have been there
• I have got to say
• I have it
• I have no idea
• I have to admit
• I have to say
• I have to warn you
• I'll have you know
• let one have it
• let (someone) have it
• might/should have known
• must-have
• not have a care in the world
• not have a hair out of place
• not have a leg to stand on
• not have any use for
• not have a stitch on
• not have it in one
• not have the faintest idea/notion
• not have the faintest/slightest idea
• not have the foggiest
• not have to
• not have to be that way
• only have eyes for
• put/have little faith in
• put/keep/have blinders on
• someone's prayers have been answered
• some people/guys have all the luck
• the ayes have it
• the have-nots
• the haves and the have-nots
• there you have it
• to have a big mouth
• walls have ears
• what have you
• what time do you have
• where have you been
• would have one believe
• you could have knocked me over with a feather
• you have no idea
• you have to admit
• you should have seen his face

Rhymes for have

• calve
• halve
• nav
• mohave

Kids Definition

have

1 of 2 verb

(ˈ)hav 

(h)əv, 

v;

in "

have to "

meaning "

must "

usually ˈhaf

past & past participle had (ˈ)had 

(h)əd, 

d

; present participle having ˈhav-iŋ  ; present 3rd singular has (ˈ)haz 

(h)əz, 

z, 

s;

in "

have to "

meaning "

must "

usually ˈhas

1

a

: possess sense 1, own

have a dog

have the right to vote

b

: to consist of

April has 30 days

2

: to be forced by duty or conscience in regard to : must

have to go

have a letter to write

3

: to stand in relationship to

has three sisters

4

a

: obtain sense 1, get

the best to be had

b

: receive sense 1

had bad news

c

: accept sense 1a

especially : to accept in marriage

she wouldn't have him

5

a

: to be marked or characterized by

has red hair

b

: reveal sense 1

had the courage to refuse

c

: use entry 2 sense 3, exercise

have mercy

6

a

: experience entry 2, undergo

have a good time

I have a cold

b

: to perform an action or engage in an activity

have a look at that mess

had a fight

c

: to hold in the mind

have an opinion

have doubts

7

a

: to cause to do or be done

had my hair cut

please have the children stay

b

: to cause to be

has everyone confused

8

: permit entry 1 sense 1

we'll have no more of that

9

a

: to hold an advantage over

we have them now

b

: trick entry 2 sense 1, fool

been had by a partner

10

: bear entry 2 sense 2a

have a baby

11

: to partake of

have dinner

12

: bribe entry 2

can be had for a price

13

—used as a helping verb with the past participle of another verb

has gone home

had already eaten

will have finished dinner by then

have

2 of 2 noun

ˈhav 

: one that has much material wealth