have
vb , has, having, had mainly tr
1 to be in material possession of; own
he has two cars
2 to possess as a characteristic quality or attribute
he has dark hair
3 to receive, take, or obtain
she had a present from him, have a look
4 to hold or entertain in the mind
to have an idea
5 to possess a knowledge or understanding of
I have no German
6 to experience or undergo
to have a shock
7 to be infected with or suffer from
to have a cold
8 to gain control of or advantage over
you have me on that point
9 usually passive
Slang to cheat or outwit
he was had by that dishonest salesman
10 foll by: on to exhibit (mercy, compassion, etc., towards)
have mercy on us, Lord
11 to engage or take part in
to have a conversation
12 to arrange, carry out, or hold
to have a party
13 to cause, compel, or require to (be, do, or be done)
have my shoes mended
14 takes an infinitive with: to used as an auxiliary to express compulsion or necessity
I had to run quickly to escape him
15 to eat, drink, or partake of
to have a good meal
16 Taboo slang to have sexual intercourse with
he had her on the sofa
17 used with a negative to tolerate or allow
I won't have all this noise
18 to declare, state, or assert
rumour has it that they will marry
19 to put or place
I'll have the sofa in this room
20 to receive as a guest
to have three people to stay
21 to beget or bear (offspring)
she had three children
22 takes a past participle used as an auxiliary to form compound tenses expressing completed action
I have gone, I shall have gone, I would have gone, I had gone
23 ♦
had better or best ought to: used to express compulsion, obligation, etc.
you had better go
24 ♦
had rather or sooner to consider or find preferable that
I had rather you left at once
25 ♦
have done See →
done →
3
26 ♦
have had it
Informal
a to be exhausted, defeated, or killed
b to have lost one's last chance
c to become unfashionable
27 ♦
have it to win a victory
28 ♦
have it away (or off)
Taboo (Brit)
slang to have sexual intercourse
29 ♦
have it coming
Informal to be about to receive or to merit punishment or retribution
30 ♦
have it in for
Informal to wish or intend harm towards
31 ♦
have it so good to have so many benefits, esp. material benefits
a to have dealings or associate with
I have nothing to do with her
b to be of relevance to
this has nothing to do with you
33 ♦
I have it
Informal I know the answer
34 ♦
let (someone) have it
Slang to launch or deliver an attack on, esp. to discharge a firearm at (someone)
35 ♦
not having any foll by: of
Informal refusing to take part or be involved (in)
n
36 usually pl a person or group of people in possession of wealth, security, etc. the haves and the have-nots See also →
have at →
have in →
have on →
have out →
have up (Old English habban; related to Old Norse hafa, Old Saxon hebbian, Old High German haben, Latin habere)
have-a-go
adj
Informal (of people attempting arduous or dangerous tasks) brave or spirited
a have-a-go pensioner
have at
vb intr, prep
Archaic to make an opening attack on, esp. in fencing
have in
vb tr, adv
1 to ask (a person) to give a service
we must have the electrician in to mend the fire
2 to invite to one's home
have-not
n usually pl a person or group of people in possession of relatively little material wealth
have on
vb tr
2 usually adv to have (a meeting or engagement) arranged as a commitment
what does your boss have on this afternoon?
3 adv
Informal to trick or tease (a person)
4 prep to have available (information or evidence, esp. when incriminating) about (a person)
the police had nothing on him, so they let him go
have out
vb tr, adv
1 to settle (a matter) or come to (a final decision), esp. by fighting or by frank discussion (often in the phrase have it out)
2 to have extracted or removed
I had a tooth out
have up
vb tr, adv; usually passive to cause to appear for trial
he was had up for breaking and entering