have
have
Pronunciation
have /hæv/
hav: /h/, /æ/, /v/
Word Form Variations
The word "have" is primarily a verb. Its main forms are:
Base form/Infinitive: have
Third-person singular present: has
Past tense: had
Past participle: had
Present participle/Gerund: having
While "have" can function as a noun in very specific, less common contexts (e.g., "the haves and the have-nots"), it doesn't have typical singular/plural variations as a noun in the same way regular nouns do.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To possess or own something.
Synonyms: possess, own, hold, maintain, control
Antonyms: lack, want, forfeit, surrender, relinquish
Example: I have a new car.
To experience or undergo something.
Synonyms: experience, undergo, encounter, feel, suffer
Antonyms: avoid, escape, shun, miss, bypass
Example: We will have a great time at the party.
To consume or take something (food, drink, medication).
Synonyms: eat, drink, consume, ingest, partake
Antonyms: abstain, forgo, refuse, decline, skip
Example: Let's have some coffee.
To be subject to or affected by something.
Synonyms: suffer from, be afflicted with, endure, bear
Antonyms: be free from, be rid of, overcome, escape
Example: She has a cold.
Used as an auxiliary verb to form perfect tenses.
Synonyms: (No direct synonyms as an auxiliary verb)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as an auxiliary verb)
Example: They have finished their work.
To give birth to (an offspring).
Synonyms: bear, deliver, produce, give birth to
Antonyms: conceive (refers to beginning of pregnancy), terminate (a pregnancy)
Example: She will have her baby next month.
To cause or allow something to happen (often in a causative sense).
Synonyms: cause, allow, permit, make, get
Antonyms: prevent, forbid, prohibit, stop, hinder
Example: I'll have the mechanic look at my car.
Noun (Less common, typically used in specific phrases)
Possessions or resources (often in the plural "haves").
Synonyms: assets, resources, possessions, wealth, riches
Antonyms: lacks, wants, necessities, deprivations
Example: The stark contrast between the haves and the have-nots was evident.
Examples of Use
Books:
"All happy families have alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina) - This classic opening line demonstrates "have" in the sense of possessing a characteristic or quality.
"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library." (Jorge Luis Borges, Collected Fictions) - Here, "have" refers to a deeply held personal belief or mental possession.
Newspapers:
"The government will have to make difficult decisions regarding the national budget in the coming months." ( The Daily Nation) - This uses "have to" to indicate obligation or necessity.
"Local farmers have reported a bumper harvest despite the erratic weather patterns this season." ( The Standard) - This showcases "have" as an auxiliary verb forming the present perfect tense.
Online Publications:
"How many tabs do you have open right now? If it's more than five, you might be suffering from digital clutter." ( Wired.com, "The Case for Closing Your Browser Tabs,") - A common usage reflecting possession of digital items.
"Scientists have discovered new evidence suggesting the presence of liquid water on an exoplanet." ( Space.com, "Breakthrough in Exoplanet Research,") - Another example of "have" as an auxiliary verb in a scientific context.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "I'll have what she's having." (Dialogue from When Harry Met Sally..., 1989) - This iconic line uses "have" for ordering food and also in its present participle form.
Television: "Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in?" (Common line in police procedural dramas like Law & Order) - Uses "have" to inquire about knowledge or understanding.
Music: "I have nothing if I have you." (Lyrics from Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing," 1992) - Emphasizes possession or lack thereof, particularly in an emotional context.
Podcasts: "Today, we have a special guest joining us to discuss the future of artificial intelligence." ( The Joe Rogan Experience, [recent episode]) - "Have" here means to host or feature someone.
Video Games: "You have collected a new item: Health Potion." (On-screen notification in many RPGs like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim) - Indicates acquisition or possession of an item within the game.
General Public Discourse:
"We have to get together soon!" (Casual conversation between friends) - Implies a necessity or strong desire to meet.
"I have a confession to make." (Someone revealing personal information) - Uses "have" to express possession of a secret or admission.
"Do you have any questions?" (A speaker concluding a presentation) - Inquiring about whether the audience possesses questions.
"I just have a feeling that something good is going to happen." (Expressing an intuition) - Refers to possessing an emotion or premonition.
10 Famous Quotes Using Have
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" (Martin Luther King Jr., "I Have a Dream" speech, 1963)
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, 1933)
"To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." (George Bernard Shaw)
"We have nothing to lose but our chains!" (Often attributed to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto)
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice)
"I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them." (Baruch Spinoza, Tractatus Politicus)
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, though the exact wording is debated, the sentiment remains his) - [Metaphorical usage focusing on personal responsibility for societal change, implying "what you have to be"]
"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." (Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist) - [Metaphorical usage implying what the universe "has" in store or "has" the power to do for you]
"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." (Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire)
Etymology
The word "have" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back thousands of years!
Imagine our very distant ancestors, speaking a language that eventually gave rise to many European and Indian languages – this is called Proto-Indo-European. In this ancient language, there was a root word, something like "*keh₂p-", which meant "to take, seize, or catch." Think of it as the basic idea of getting a hold of something.
From this ancient root, the word evolved through different stages:
It moved into Proto-Germanic, the ancestor of languages like English, German, and Norse. Here, it became "*habjaną", which meant "to have" or "to hold." This change from "taking" to "having" makes sense – if you take something, you then have it!
Then, it transitioned into Old English (the language spoken in England before 1066), where it appeared as "habban" or "hafian." At this point, it already carried the primary meaning of "to own, possess," and also "to experience" or "to be subject to." So, if you "habban" a book, you owned it. If you "habban" a cold, you experienced it.
So, the first known use and meaning of the word, in its direct lineage to modern English, can be found in Old English (before 1150 AD). Its core meaning at that time was indeed "to own, possess", and it was already developing other uses like "to experience."
It's interesting to note that even though "have" looks and feels similar to words like the Latin "habere" (also meaning "to have"), they actually come from different ancient roots. This is a common linguistic phenomenon where similar-sounding words in different language families can arise independently!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Have
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "have":
Have a good time: To enjoy oneself.
Have a go: To attempt something.
Have a point: To be correct or to make a valid argument.
Have second thoughts: To reconsider a decision.
Have something in common: To share interests or characteristics.
Have butterflies in one's stomach: To feel nervous.
Have an axe to grind: To have a hidden motive or grievance.
Have cold feet: To suddenly become too scared to do something planned.
Have your cake and eat it too: To enjoy both of two desirable but mutually exclusive alternatives.
Have a chip on one's shoulder: To hold a grievance or resentment that influences one's behavior.
Have the last laugh: To ultimately triumph after being doubted or ridiculed.
Have seen better days: To be old, worn, or in poor condition.
Have a heart of gold: To be very kind and generous.
Have nothing to lose: To be in a situation where taking a risk has no negative consequences.
Have one's hands full: To be very busy.
Have words with someone: To argue or discuss a serious matter with someone.
Have it out with someone: To confront someone in order to settle a disagreement.
Have a bone to pick with someone: To have a grievance that needs to be discussed.
Have a field day: To have an opportunity to do something enjoyable, often something mischievous or critical.
Have an early night: To go to bed earlier than usual.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of have from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
