Definition of have

Short definition: The word have means to own something, experience something, or need to do something. People use it daily when talking about belongings, time, feelings, health, and responsibilities.

Looking for a clear and real-life explanation of the word have? The word have is one of the most flexible verbs in English. We use it to talk about owning things, experiencing moments, having responsibilities, building relationships, and even forming sentences in grammar. It may look simple, but this word quietly carries a huge part of everyday communication. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed, natural way with long examples that show how people really use it.

Verb forms: have, has, having, had
Related: possession n., have to modal phrase, have got v. phrase
Syllable: have

1. (Verb) To own, possess, or hold something.
   She has a small apartment near the city center, which she worked hard for after years of saving.
   He has a reliable car, so friends often ask him for rides.
   They have everything they need to start their new business, including experience, passion, and strong support.

   Synonyms: own, possess, hold, keep, retain, be in possession of, control, carry, maintain, enjoy, command, store
   Antonyms: lack, lose, be without, miss, give up, surrender, forfeit, drop, release, hand over, part with, abandon

2. (Verb) To experience something, such as an event, feeling, or situation.
   She had an unforgettable experience during her first trip abroad.
   He had a long conversation with his mentor, which helped him see things more clearly.
   They had a difficult time last year, but they grew stronger through it.

   Synonyms: experience, go through, encounter, undergo, face, live through, deal with, endure, feel, suffer, enjoy, take part in
   Antonyms: avoid, escape, miss out on, skip, bypass, dodge, be spared from, be untouched by, stay away from, evade, not experience, ignore

3. (Verb) To be responsible for something or to take care of it.
   She has two young children to take care of, so her daily schedule is always full.
   He has many duties at work, but he still tries to help his colleagues.
   They have a big project to manage, which requires careful planning.

   Synonyms: be responsible for, manage, handle, look after, take care of, oversee, supervise, run, be in charge of, maintain, support, guide
   Antonyms: neglect, abandon responsibility, ignore duties, avoid managing, leave unattended, give up control, step away, refuse responsibility, drop obligations, shirk, overlook, desert

4. (Verb) To be in a particular condition or state.
   I have a feeling that everything will work out, even though the situation looks difficult right now.
   She has a lot of confidence when she speaks in public.
   He had a strong sense of responsibility toward his family.

   Synonyms: feel, hold, carry within, experience internally, possess emotionally, be in, be filled with, maintain, keep, contain, show, display
   Antonyms: lack feeling, be empty of, be without emotion, feel nothing, lose confidence, be uncertain, doubt, miss inner strength, be unsure, feel powerless, lack spirit, be discouraged

5. (Verb) To eat or drink something.
   Let’s have lunch together and talk about our plans for the weekend.
   She had a cup of coffee before starting her long day at work.
   We have dinner as a family every night, no matter how busy we are.

   Synonyms: eat, drink, consume, enjoy a meal, take, dine, snack on, sip, taste, feast on, refresh oneself with, partake of
   Antonyms: fast, skip meals, go hungry, avoid food, refuse to eat, starve, abstain from eating, decline food, miss a meal, diet strictly, hold back from eating, not dine

6. (Verb) To need or require something.
   You have to finish this report today, because the deadline is very close.
   She has to leave early tomorrow for an important appointment.
   We have to be careful when making decisions that affect others.

   Synonyms: must, need to, be required to, be obliged to, be expected to, be necessary to, be bound to, be compelled to, be duty-bound to, be forced to, be responsible to, be supposed to
   Antonyms: be free to, have no need to, not be required to, be optional, be unnecessary, be allowed to skip, be released from duty, be exempt from, not have to, be optional to, be voluntary, be unneeded

7. (Grammar) Used as an auxiliary verb to form perfect tenses.
   She has finished her work, so she can finally relax.
   They have traveled to many countries, gaining valuable life experience.
   I had already left when he called me back.

   Synonyms: serve as auxiliary, function as helper verb, support verb tense, mark completion, indicate experience, show result, express past action, form perfect tense, indicate prior action, signal completion, show continuity, support structure
   Antonyms: not form perfect tense, avoid auxiliary use, remove tense marker, drop helping verb, use simple tense only, avoid grammatical support, ignore tense structure, misuse verb form, distort grammar, break sentence flow, omit auxiliary, lose tense clarity