Definition of have
(Entry 1 of 2)
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 towe 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
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 tohave 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
11 : bear sense 3a have a baby
12 : to partake of
have dinner have a piece
1 —used with the past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, or future perfecthas gone homehad already eatenwill have finished dinner by then
2 : to be compelled, obliged, or required
—used with an infinitive with to or to alonewe had to godo what you have toit has to be said
had better or had best 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
: would be wise to
had better go to bed
: to go at or deal with : attack like two boxers having at each other
: to deserve or merit what one gets, benefits by, or suffers
he had that coming
: to bring to an end : have no further concern with
let us have done with name-calling
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.
: to intend to do harm to
: to settle a matter of contention by discussion or a fight
thinks they just need to have it out
: to refuse to have anything to do with
We will have none of that.
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
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
nounDefinition of have (Entry 2 of 2)
: one that is well-endowed especially in material wealth
the haves and have-nots
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Words of Snow and Ice Quiz
- Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Anagram puzzles meet word search.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Words of Snow and Ice Quiz
A selection of words from the chillier parts of t...
Take the quizName that Thing: Toys and Games Edition
It's all fun and games until someone beats your h...
Take the quizTrue or False?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something a...
Take the quizSCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!
Play the game
Share have
Time Traveler for have
The first known use of have was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century