had

Definition of hadnext
past tense of have
1
2
3
4
5
as in experienced
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it had a great time at the party had three operations on her leg

Synonyms & Similar Words

6
7
8

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of had Cowboy boots, micro-minis, oversized hats, and platform sandals have all had their moments, but one thing never changes—Saint-Tropez is not a one-outfit kind of place, even for the most committed minimalist. Lanie Goodman, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026 The Blackhawks have had a ton of high picks in recent years and have acquired a surplus of highly talented and competitive skaters at both forward and defense, with Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov leading that next wave. Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 The country still had 1,749 square kilometers (about 675 square miles) of uncleared land as of last year. ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 In 1996, 65% of public safety employees had nine or fewer years on the job. Mariana Trujillo, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2026 Washington himself had hundreds of slaves at his home and plantation in Virginia. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026 Angels starter Reid Detmers gave up one run and had six strikeouts in six innings. CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for had
Verb
  • Two Jets front-office sources, on condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly, deny that, and Glenn has owned the decisions publicly.
    Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Federal investigators are probing whether insurance firms owned by Walter improperly funnelled money to other companies of his.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Progress on a new distribution deal has been glacial but Premier League clubs have, at least, recently put a proper offer to EFL, though one which seems unlikely to be accepted.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Ruiz was also amiable and generous-hearted in these moments, less severe than usual, and accepted their help.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Entering Wednesday’s finale, the Twins had produced three or fewer runs in 14 of their last 24 games.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • On August 14, Garrett & The Bad Boys will release their debut EP, Heavy Naturals, produced by three-time Grammy Award winner Kenny Greenberg.
    Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • White House pool reporters deceived Advertisement McDonald pushed back on the idea that Air Force One and the people still aboard it, including journalists, were left exposed.
    Philip Wang, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Harvey said at the time that his biggest concern was the people being deceived.
    Victor Dey, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Each of those positions experienced a boost of confidence or a seed of concern since players reported to camp three weeks ago.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Flores experienced one of the country’s deadliest disasters in 1992, when an earthquake and an ensuing tsunami killed about 2,500 people.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Rockies starter Gabriel Hughes allowed eight hits and seven runs through four innings.
    CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That’s when Congress allowed states to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to a year, which nearly every state did.
    Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In 2015, a lower court convicted the former prime minister of having bribed a senator, handing him a three-year sentence.
    CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Then on Thursday, less than a month later, a federal indictment was unsealed alleging that LeVota bribed a county lawmaker in order to ensure their recusal from the race for the county’s top seat.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.
    Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Had.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/had. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on had

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster