have

HAF/hæf/HAV

34 meanings of have

1
belong to youverbtransitive
To own something, or to hold it or keep it with you so you can use it.
Do you have a pen I could borrow?
She has three cats.
UsageAsk do you have...? For owning, say I have a car (not ~~incorrect: I'm having a car~~).
Similarown, possess, hold, keep
Oppositelack
Note
2
verbauxiliary
Used with a past participle to make the perfect tense, as in 'I have eaten'.
We have lived in this town for ten years.
She has never seen snow in her life.
UsageShort forms: I've, she's, we'd. Write could have (not ~~incorrect: could of~~), should have.
3
verbtransitive
To include something as a part or a feature.
This soup has carrots, potatoes, and beans in it.
Most birds have hollow bones.
Similarcontain, include, feature, boast, incorporate
Oppositelack
4
forced toverbauxiliarywith infinitivewith to
Used before to and a verb to say that you must do something.
We have to leave by eight to catch the bus.
She has to work on Saturdays.
UsageDon't have to means you don't need to. Mustn't means you can't.
Similarneed
5
verbtransitive
To experience something, including something that happens to you or to your things.
We had a great time at the fair.
Did you have a good trip?
UsageSay have a good time or have fun.
Similarexperience, undergo
6
engage inverbtransitive
To do an action, as in 'have a look' or 'have a bath'.
Why don't you have a rest on the couch?
Come on, let's have a swim before dinner.
UsageSay have a look or have a rest.
Note
7
verbtransitive
To be related to or connected with someone, as in 'have two sisters'.
I have a cousin who lives in Texas.
We have great neighbors on both sides.
8
make happenverbtransitivewith adjective
To make or arrange for someone to do something, or for something to be done or be a certain way.
We had the house painted last summer.
I'll have the kids clean their rooms before dinner.
UsageSay I had my hair cut when someone else cut it.
Similarget
Note

Less common meanings

9
eatverbtransitive
To eat, drink, or smoke something, as in 'have breakfast' or 'have a coffee'.
Let's have pizza for dinner tonight.
Have you had lunch yet?
UsageSay have lunch, with no a or the.
Similareat, drink, consume, take
10
suffer fromverbtransitive
To suffer from an illness or a problem, as in 'have a cold'.
My son had chickenpox when he was four.
I think I have the flu.
UsageSay have a cold or have a headache, but have chickenpox with no a.
11
verb
Used at the end of a statement to check it, as in 'You have finished, haven't you?'.
You haven't seen my keys, have you?
She has finished her homework, hasn't she?
UsageUsually a yes sentence gets a not tag (haven't you?), and a no sentence gets a yes tag (have you?).
12
give birthverbtransitive
To give birth to a child, as in 'she had a baby'.
My sister is having twins in March.
They always wanted to have children.
UsageBefore the birth, use the -ing form: she is having a baby.
Similarbear, deliver, birth
13
verbpassivetransitive
To get or obtain, mostly in 'to be had'.
Tickets for the concert can't be had anywhere now.
There are bargains to be had if you look.
UsageMostly in can be had or to be had, about things. Someone who has been had was tricked.
Similarobtain, get, find, acquire, buy
Note
14
be scheduledverbtransitive
To be due to attend or do something, as in 'I have a meeting'.
I have a dentist appointment at three.
Fred can't come because he has a meeting that day.
15
hostverbtransitive
To have someone as a guest, as in 'thanks for having me'.
My aunt is having us for Thanksgiving this year.
We'd love to have the neighbors over for dinner.
UsageSay have friends over for a visit.
Similarhost, entertain, accommodate, receive, welcome
16
verbtransitive
To have sex with someone.
Rumor said she'd had half the band after the show.
All he wanted was to have her in bed, not to date her.
Similarbed
17
allowverbtransitive
To allow or put up with something, in the negative, as in 'I won't have it'.
Dad isn't having loud music in the house after ten at night.
I won't have you talking to your mother like that.
UsageOften followed by a person and an -ing verb: I won't have you staying out late.
Similarallow, tolerate, permit, accept, stand
Oppositeforbid, prohibit
Note
18
believeverbtransitive
To believe or accept something, usually in the negative, as in 'wasn't having it'.
He swore the dog ate his homework, but the teacher wasn't having it.
The shop said the stain was already there, but I wasn't having it.
UsageYou can add any of: she wasn't having any of it.
Similarbuy, believe, accept, swallow, credit
19
understandverbtransitive
To understand something, as in 'now I have it!'.
Do you have it now, or should I explain again?
I think I have the gist of your plan.
Similarunderstand, grasp, get, follow, see
20
trickverbcolloquialpassivetransitive
To trick or cheat someone, mostly in 'I've been had'.
The "free" vacation cost us hundreds. We've been had!
I paid for a gold chain, but it turned green in a week. I was had.
Similarcon, trick, fool, dupe, swindle
Note
21
get as answerverbtransitive
To get a result or reading, as in 'what do you have for problem two?'.
What do you have for question two?
I have the total at $86. Does that match yours?
Similarget, show
22
say yes (marriage)verbtransitive
To accept someone as a partner or spouse.
She proposed to him twice before he agreed to have her.
She'd have him tomorrow if he asked.
Similartake, accept, marry
Oppositereject, refuse, spurn
23
feel soreverbtransitive
To feel a part of your body, especially because it aches.
Dan certainly has arms today, after scraping paint all yesterday.
I have legs this morning after that hike.
Note
24
hold attentionverbtransitive
To hold someone's attention or interest completely.
The first chapter had me and I couldn't put it down.
Ask any comedian: you either have the crowd in the first minute or you lose them.
UsageYou had me can mean you held my interest, or you fooled me.
Similarhold, grip, hook, captivate, keep
Oppositelose
Note
25
rich personnounidiomaticcountablecontrastive
A rich or privileged person, as in 'the haves and the have-nots'.
At our school you could tell the haves from the have-nots by their sneakers.
Tax policy favors the haves.
Oppositehave-not
Note
26
show asverbtransitivewith adjective
To describe or show someone as being a certain way, as in 'her account had him at home'.
He said he was at work, but her statement had him at home all evening.
Old maps have the river running to the west.
Similarshow, depict, portray, represent
Note
27
rip-offnouncolloquialAustraliaNew Zealandcountable
In Australian and New Zealand slang, a swindle or a con.
That "free gift" was a total have, mate.
That sad story about his stolen wallet was a have.
Similarcon, scam, rip-off, swindle, fraud
Note
28
speak (language)verbtransitive
To know a language well enough to speak it.
Do you have any Irish at all?
My granny has fluent Irish and a bit of French.
UsageSay I have a little French.
Similarspeak, know
Note
29
verbtransitive
Used, often with "here" or "next," to show or introduce someone or something to people watching or listening.
Next we have Maria, who will play the violin.
And here we have the kitchen, which was just painted.
30
beat (fight)verbslangBritishtransitive
To beat someone in a fight.
He's taller than me, but I reckon I could have him in a fight.
The boxer told reporters he would have the champion inside three rounds.
UsageSaid as I could have him: I could beat him.
Similarbeat, take
31
punishverbslangBritishtransitive
To punish someone, or get back at them for something bad they did.
Be late one more time and the boss will have you for it.
My dad is going to have me when he sees the scratch on his car.
UsageSaid as a threat: I'll have you for that.
Similarpunish, get
Note
32
verb
Of a jury or judge, to start deciding a case after it is heard.
33
verb
To spot a kind of bird.
34
nounrare
A person who has the thing being talked about, unlike others who lack it.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–26, 28–31

From Old English "habban," meaning "to have." It goes back to an old Germanic root and a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to take, seize." It is related to "heave."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Have derives from Old English habban, meaning 'to have'. en.wiktionary.org
The word goes back through Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to take, seize'. en.wiktionary.org
Have and heave are etymologically related. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 27

From "have on," meaning "to deceive."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The noun have, meaning a fraud or deception, derives from have on. en.wiktionary.org
Have on means to deceive. en.wiktionary.org