Have: meaning, definitions and examples

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have

 

[ hÃĻv ]

Verb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Verb

action

Possess, own, or hold. To experience or undergo. To eat or drink something. To show a particular quality or characteristic.

Synonyms

experience, hold, own, possess, undergo

Examples of usage

  • I have a car.
  • She has a lot of experience in this field.
  • Do you have any plans for the weekend?
  • The movie has a funny twist at the end.
Context #2 | Verb

auxiliary

Used with a past participle to form the perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect tenses, and the conditional mood.

Synonyms

auxiliary, helping verb

Examples of usage

  • I have finished my homework.
  • She has lived in that house for ten years.
Context #3 | Noun

auxiliary verb

A verb that helps to form the tenses, moods, voices, etc., of other verbs.

Synonyms

auxiliary verb, helping verb

Examples of usage

  • 'Have' is an auxiliary verb in the sentence 'I have finished my work.'

Word origin

The word 'have' has its origins in Old English, where it was derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'habjan'. Over time, its meaning evolved to encompass various uses such as possession, auxiliary functions, and more. The word has been a fundamental part of the English language for centuries, adapting to different contexts and uses.

See also: haven, haversack, having.