had

Definition of hadnext
past tense of have
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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

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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 The Lions had 42 varsity players this year, including 22 girls. Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026 The junior right-hander finally had some breathing room. Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 Luis Puls had a home run and six RBIs. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 Towns had to work through extra traffic. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026 But yes, that was cold-blooded to Dickson, who clearly had a crush on her. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 Mar. 2025 Police had Bumgardner take a breathalyzer test twice, several minutes apart. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025 So those doctors had great talent. Time Staff, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025 Rod Stewart and King Charles had a memorable interaction at The King's Foundation's 35th anniversary time capsule ceremony. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for had
Verb
  • Redken, a haircare company owned by L'Oreal, created an entire hair treatment line specifically for consumers with thin hair called the Acidic Grow Full System.
    Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 2 May 2026
  • Also, a magenta bed once owned by a Vegas drag queen that couldn’t be restored in time for the show (too much hair spray caked on the headboard).
    Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • When President John Quincy Adams accepted Bolívar’s invitation, his opponents pounced.
    Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • The Robinson plaintiffs offered a few maps that guaranteed more Black voting strength, but the plan that was accepted in court was ultimately one drawn by the state’s Republicans, including Governor Jeff Landry, a MAGA stalwart.
    Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • The standard method for identifying when an SPE occurred is measuring carbon-14, produced when high-energy photos penetrate the Earth’s magnetic field (usually near the poles) and collide with gases in the atmosphere.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
  • The series was produced on and off between 2008 and 2018, featuring celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt and even President Barack Obama.
    Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • But some were also deceived or coerced.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Musk, who had donated at least $38 million to the lab, wanted to be CEO and gain majority control, but felt deceived after a power struggle with Altman over the role.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Other participants experienced the sounds within the context of their dreams; in one, the question seemed to emanate from a dream radio.
    Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
  • Earlier this month, the Times of India reported an Air India Express pilot experienced a cardiac arrest at Delhi Airport on April 8.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Soriano allowed three runs on six hits with six strikeouts and three walks in five innings.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • If catchers, pitchers, or hitters believed an umpire missed a call, they were suddenly allowed to challenge it.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • As seen in a now-viral video on TikTok, Alexis took matters into her own hands and bribed her little girl with $2 to cooperate and smile for picture day.
    Georgia Slater, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Forest might have added a third European trophy in six years under him had opponents Anderlecht not bribed the referee for their semi-final in the 1983-84 UEFA Cup (today’s Europa League).
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Had.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/had. Accessed 4 May. 2026.

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