Have Word Meaning

Old English habban, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hebben and German haben, also probably to heave

possess, own, or hold

possess, own, or hold

• he had a new car and a boat
• I've got a house of my own
• have you got a job yet?
• I don't have that much money on me
• he's got the equipment with him

experience; undergo

experience or undergo

• I went to a few parties and had a good time
• I was having difficulty in keeping awake

be obliged or find it necessary to do the specified thing

be obliged to

• you don't have to accept this situation
• sorry, we've got to dash

perform the action indicated by the noun specified (used especially in spoken English as an alternative to a more specific verb)

perform specified action

• he had a look round
• the colour green has a restful effect

show (a personal attribute or quality) by one's actions or attitude

show attribute or quality

• he had little patience with technological gadgetry
• you never even phoned, and now you've got the cheek to come back

place or keep (something) in a particular position

place or keep in particular position

• Mary had her back to me
• I soon had the trout in a net

be the recipient of (something sent, given, or done)

be recipient of

• she had a letter from Mark

people with plenty of money and possessions

wealthy people

• an increasing gap between the haves and have-nots

a swindle.

swindle