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.'

Etymology

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.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #10, this is one of the most fundamental words in English. It's absolutely essential to master this word as it forms the backbone of English communication and appears in almost every conversation or text.