have
VERB · English
Experimental / limited support
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The corpus records 34 senses of have. Each sense below has its own Add to list, so you choose the one you mean.
Display information
Experimental coverage — measured below Partial on the number of recorded words, definitions, translations, word forms and pronunciation. Treat entries as evidence to check; meanings may be incomplete.
English is Experimental in Words. Support is measured, not declared: a language reaches Partial only when every measure meets its threshold, and a measure that has not been taken does not count. The development corpus holds 60 source-backed words in English. What is shown may be incomplete, and pronunciation audio, generated forms and generated examples are not offered.
-
Definition: To possess, own. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- I have a house and a car. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To hold, as something at someone's disposal. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- Look what I have here—a frog I found on the street! Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Do you have the key? Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To include as a part, ingredient, or feature. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- The stove has a handle. The shirt has sleeves. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- The words cow and dog have three letters. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- A government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- The movie has lots of action. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: Used to state the existence or presence of someone in a specified relationship with the subject. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- I have two sisters. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- She doesn’t have any friends. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I have a really mean boss. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To consume or use up (a particular substance or resource, especially food or drink). From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- I have breakfast at six o'clock. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- You've already had five drinks! Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- She's had more than enough time already. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To undertake or perform (an action or activity). From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- Can I have a look at that? Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- He's having a tantrum about it. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I’m going to have a bath now. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Let’s have a game of tiddlywinks. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To be scheduled to attend, undertake or participate in. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- What class do you have right now? I have English. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Fred won’t be able to come to the party; he has a meeting that day. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I have a lot of work to do. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To experience, go through, undergo. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- We had a hard year last year, with the locust swarms and all that. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- He had surgery on his hip yesterday. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I’m having the time of my life! Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I hope you have a wonderful birthday. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- This year we're having Christmas with my wife's family in Thunder Bay. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To be afflicted with, suffer from. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- He had a cold last week. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: Used in forming the perfect aspect. From a source of medium confidence.
auxiliary · with-past-participle
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- I have already eaten today. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Mom's gone real mad, she has. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- The universe is expanding and has been since its beginning. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I will have left by the time you get here. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- This is the first (and last) time I've eaten lobster. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I’ve worked here for exactly four years, one month and 10 days. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- The dogs have eaten your dinner, and I ate the last of the frozen burgers this morning. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Uncle José has crashed the car again. He ran into a tree. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- The American Revolution has influenced every democratic process in Europe since the 19th c. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I'm going to take a bath after I've answered these emails. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: Used as an interrogative verb before a pronoun to form a tag question, echoing a previous use of 'have' as an auxiliary verb or, in certain cases, main verb. (For further discussion, see the appendix English tag questions.) From a source of medium confidence.
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- They haven’t eaten dinner yet, have they? Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Your wife hasn’t been reading that nonsense, has she? Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- He has some money, hasn’t he? Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: See have to. From a source of medium confidence.
auxiliary · with-infinitive · with-to
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- I have to go. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To give birth to. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- The couple always wanted to have children. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- My wife is having the baby right now! Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- My mother had me when she was 25. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To obtain. From a source of medium confidence.
informal · passive · usually
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- The substance you describe can't be had at any price. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Out there is a fortune waiting to be had / You think I'll let it go you're mad / You've got another thing comin' 1982, Rob Halford, K. K. Downing, Glenn Tipton, “You've Got Another Thing Comin'”, in Screaming for Vengeance, performed by Judas Priest, side 2, track 2:
-
Definition: To engage in sexual intercourse with. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- He’s always bragging about how many women he’s had. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Tame midweek stress the fun way. Have each other before dinner to reconnect after a long day. 2008 January–February, “70 Ways to Improve Every Day of the Week”, in Men's Health, volume 23, number 1, →ISSN, page 134:
-
Definition: To accept as a romantic partner. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- Despite my protestations of love, she would not have me. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To cause to, by a command, request or invitation. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive · with-infinitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- They had me feed their dog while they were out of town. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Her very boyfriend is the person the criminal has do most of her dirty deeds. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- The floor has had oil dropped all over it. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- His English is still in its beginning stages, like my Creole, but he was able to translate some Creole songs that he's written into English—not the best English, but English nonetheless. He had me correct the translations. That kind of thing is very interesting to me. When I was learning Spanish, I would often take my favorite songs and try to translate them. 2002, Matt Cyr, Something to Teach Me: Journal of an American in the Mountains of Haiti, Educa Vision, Inc., →ISBN, page 25:
-
Definition: To cause to be. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive · with-adjective
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- He had him arrested for trespassing. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I'd better have my watch repaired today: tomorrow I have to have my hair cut before having pictures taken for my passport. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- The lecture’s ending had the entire audience in tears. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Jim has his eyes closed. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To be affected by an occurrence. (Used in supplying a topic that is a small clause.) From a source of medium confidence.
transitive · with-infinitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- The hospital had several patients contract pneumonia last week. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I’ve had three people today tell me my hair looks nice. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To depict as being. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive · with-adjective
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- Their stories differed; he said he’d been at work when the incident occurred, but her statement had him at home that entire evening. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- Anton Rogan, 8, was one of the runners-up in the Tick Tock Box short story competition, not Anton Rogers as we had it. 2011 May 3, “Corrections and clarifications”, in The Guardian:
-
Definition: To defeat in a fight; take. From a source of medium confidence.
UK · slang · transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- I could have him! Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To inflict punishment or retribution on. From a source of medium confidence.
UK · slang · transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- When we did a rerecorded version for Top of the Pops, the Musicians' Union bloke said, "If I think you're making strings sounds out of a synthesiser, I'm going to have you. Video Killed the Radio Star is putting musicians out of business." 2018 October 30, Dave Simpson, “The Buggles: how we made Video Killed the Radio Star”, in The Guardian, Guardian News & Media, retrieved 20 Mar 2025:
- You broke the window! Teacher’ll have you for that! Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To be able to speak (a language). From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- I have no German. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To feel or be (especially painfully) aware of. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- Dan certainly has arms today, probably from scraping paint off four columns the day before. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
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Definition: To trick, to deceive. From a source of medium confidence.
informal · often · passive · transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- I bought a laptop online but it never arrived. I think I've been had! Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- You had me alright! I never would have thought that was just a joke. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To allow; to tolerate. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- The child screamed incessantly for his mother to buy him a toy, but she wasn't having any of it. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I asked my dad if I could go to the concert this Thursday, but he wouldn't have it since it's a school night. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- “ You're a very naughty boy. If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. I won't have you chasing the geese!” 1922 October 26, Virginia Woolf, chapter II, in Jacob’s Room, Richmond, London: […] Leonard & Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press, →OCLC; republished London: The Hogarth Press, 1960, →OCLC, page 19:
-
Definition: To believe, buy, be taken in by. From a source of medium confidence.
often · transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- I made up an excuse as to why I was out so late, but my wife wasn't having any of it. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To host someone; to take in as a guest. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- Thank you for having me! Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To get a reading, measurement, or result from an instrument or calculation. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- What do you have for problem two? Usage example — not an attested quotation.
- I have two contacts on my scope. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To consider a court proceeding that has been completed; to begin deliberations on a case. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- We’ll schedule closing arguments for Thursday, and the jury will have the case by that afternoon. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To make an observation of (a bird species). From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- For some reason, "I had a Freckled Duck today" never seems to work as a pick-up line. 2005, Sean Dooley, The Big Twitch, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, page 57:
-
Definition: To capture or actively hold someone's attention or interest. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- 1977-1980, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure Thurs nite I went to see Lou Reed […] and Lou, oh God, he completely had me. I was lost at the foot of a god. Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To grasp the meaning of; comprehend. From a source of medium confidence.
transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- Ah! Now I have it! Usage example — not an attested quotation.
-
Definition: To be (an age). From a source of medium confidence.
nonstandard · transitive
No translation has been attempted for this sense.
- My name is Helene de Pontis and I search penpals from all over the world, but not only. I have 20 years and I am a single. 2002 December 1, Helene de Pontis, “Hello, it's me”, in soc.singles (Usenet), archived from the original on 28 Jul 2026:
- My name is Rafael Torres de Almeida, I have 20 years of age, I live in São Paulo - Brazil 2003 August 2, Rafael Torres de Almeida, “MCP, MCSA, MCSE e MCT "--Today--"”, in microsoft.public.cert.mct (Usenet), archived from the original on 28 Jul 2026:
- hallo!i am student from croatia and i have 20 years!!my name is Ivan 2004 February 8, ivan_horvat, “Hi!”, in aus.students (Usenet), archived from the original on 28 Jul 2026:
No paradigm has been compiled for this word yet.
Etymology: From Middle English haven, from Old English habban (“to have”), from Proto-West Germanic *habbjan, from Proto-Germanic *habjaną (“to have”), durative of *habjaną (“to lift, take up”), from Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti, an imperfective formation to the root *kap- (“to take, seize, catch”). Related to heave. Since there is no common Indo-European root for a transitive possessive verb have (notice that Latin habeō is not etymologically related to English have), Proto-Indo-European probably lacked the have structure. Instead, the third person forms of be were used, with the possessor in dative case, compare Latin mihi est / sunt, literally to me is / are. The nonstandard etymology 1, verb sense 34 (“to be (an age)”) is a semantic loan from other languages’ term for “to possess, own”, such as French avoir, Polish mieć, and Spanish tener. Cognates Cognate with Scots hae (“to have”), North Frisian haa, heewe (“to have”), Saterland Frisian häbe, hääbe (“to have”), West Frisian hawwe (“to have”), Afrikaans hê (“to have”), Alemannic German haa, heen, hoh, hä, häbä, hè (“to have”), Bavarian hobm, hobn, hoom, håbn (“to have”), Cimbrian haban, hen, håm (“to have”), Dutch and Low German hebben (“to have”), German haben (“to have”), Limburgish haane, höbbe (“to have”), Luxembourgish hunn (“to have”), Mòcheno hom (“to have”), Vilamovian hon (“to have”), Yiddish האָבן (hobn, “to have”), Danish have (“to have”), Elfdalian åvå (“to have”), Faroese hava (“to have”), Icelandic hafa (“to have”), Norwegian Bokmål ha (“to have”), Norwegian Nynorsk ha, hava, have, hå (“to have”), Swedish ha, hafva, hava (“to have”), Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌽 (haban, “to have”), Albanian kap (“to grab, catch, grip”), Latin capiō (“take”, verb), Russian хапать (xapatʹ, “to seize”). From a source of medium confidence.
No related word is recorded for this word.