1
a
: 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 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
5
6
a
: 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
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
8
: allow
we'll have no more of that
9
: to be competent in
has only a little French
10
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 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
: one that is well-endowed especially in material wealth
the haves and have-nots
Phrases
had better
or had best
: 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.
1
a
: 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
Alice M. Jordan2
: to have a specified relationship with or effect on
the size of the brain has nothing to do with intelligence—Ruth Benedict
Ruth BenedictSynonyms
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
Emma Soren, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
What about the things that don’t spark joy, per se, but do have some sentimental value?
—Whizy Kim, Vox, 19 Nov. 2024
David Aldridge, The Athletic, 5 Aug. 2024
Ultimately, the perennial haves and have-nots will always be a factor too.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for have 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Emma’s always on her phone, smoking, or having tea.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
What about the things that don’t spark joy, per se, but do have some sentimental value?
—Whizy Kim, Vox, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
So there is a never-ending dialogue between the haves and don’t-want-to-haves, who each claim a piece of the art.
—David Aldridge, The Athletic, 5 Aug. 2024
Ultimately, the perennial haves and have-nots will always be a factor too.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for have
Dictionary Entries Near have
Cite this Entry
“Have.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
have
1 of 2 verb
(ˈ)hav 
(h)əv,
v;
in ",
have to ",
meaning ",
must ",
usually ˈhaf
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
: one that has much material wealth
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