have
HAV
Have (verb) means to own or possess something. Example: “My neighbours have two dogs and a very noisy parrot.”
verb
1
To own or possess something.
"My neighbours have two dogs and a very noisy parrot."
"They have a house near the coast."
"Do you have a spare pen?"
2
To experience, undergo, or be affected by something.
"She had a rough week at work."
"We had a great time at the festival."
"Tourists often have trouble finding the right platform at this busy station."
3
Used with a past participle to form the perfect tense, showing an action is completed.
"We have never seen such a huge crowd at the market before."
"I have finished the report."
"They had already left by the time we arrived."
4
To cause something to be done, often by someone else.
"We had the car repaired last week."
"I need to have my hair cut before the wedding."
"They are having a new kitchen fitted next month."
5
To eat or drink something.
"Let's have lunch before the meeting."
"Would you like to have a cup of tea with us?"
"I usually have toast and fruit for breakfast."
How to use have
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of the most common English verbs: to own something, to experience something, or to help build other verb tenses like "have done" or "have gone."
Common mistake
Don't confuse "have to" (obligation, as in "I have to go") with simple possession — the meaning shifts depending on what follows.
Common pairings
have to
have a look
have a go
have breakfast
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like have.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- haves
- Third person singular
- has, hath
- Past tense
- had
- Archaic forms
- hast, hadst
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My neighbours _____ two dogs and a very noisy parrot.
Etymology
From Old English habban, going back to a very old Germanic root meaning "to hold" or "seize" — related to the English word "heave."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for have
See all rhymes for have →Frequently asked questions
What does “have” mean?
The word “have” means to own or possess something. In plain terms, one of the most common English verbs: to own something, to experience something, or to help build other verb tenses like "have done" or "have gone.".
How do you pronounce “have”?
“Have” is pronounced HAV (/ˈhæv/ in IPA).
How do you use “have” in a sentence?
Here is “have” used in a sentence: “They have a house near the coast.”
What is another word for “have”?
Words with a similar meaning to “have” include sleep with and take.
What part of speech is “have”?
“Have” is a verb.
Where does the word “have” come from?
The word “have” comes from Old English. From Old English habban, going back to a very old Germanic root meaning "to hold" or "seize" — related to the English word "heave.".
Is “have” a common word?
“Have” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “have” have?
“Have” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to own or possess something.
What is the difference between "have" and "has"?
Both are present-tense forms of the same verb: "has" is used with he, she, it, and singular nouns ("she has a car"), while "have" is used with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns ("they have a car"). In questions and negatives formed with "do," the base form "have" is always used: "Does she have a car?"
What is the difference between "have" and "have got"?
For possession, "have" and "have got" mean the same thing: "I have a brother" and "I've got a brother" are interchangeable. "Have got" is more common in informal British English, while plain "have" is preferred in formal writing and in American English.
Is "should of" ever correct instead of "should have"?
No. "Should of" is a misspelling caused by the sound of the contraction "should've," which is short for "should have." The same applies to "could have" and "would have" — never "could of" or "would of."
What is the difference between "have" and "own"?
"Own" strictly means to possess something as property, while "have" is much broader: you can have a cold, have a shower, or have a good time, where nothing is owned at all. "Have" also covers experiencing or undergoing something, so it fits many situations where "own" would be wrong.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing have in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
They have the highest rate of unwanted, intrusive thoughts, at 28%.
From
The Guardian · Jul 25, 2026
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include have:
