Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

have

2 verb
     
have2 S1 [transitive]
1

quality/feature

also have got [not in progressive] especially British English used to say what someone or something looks like, what qualities or features they possess etc:
She has dark hair and brown eyes.
Sullivan's music does have a certain charm.
You need to have a lot of patience to be a teacher.
Wild rice has a very nutty flavour.
He didn't even have the courtesy to answer my letter.
have it in you (=have the skill or special quality needed to do something)
You should have seen the way Dad was dancing - I didn't know he had it in him!
2

include/contain

also have got [not in progressive ] especially British English to include or contain something or a particular number of things or people:
Japan has a population of over 120 million.
How many pages has it got?
have something in it/them
The tank still has water in it.
3

own

also have got [not in progressive] spoken especially British English used to say that someone owns something or that it is available for them to use:
They used to have a Mercedes Benz.
Has your secretary got a fax machine?
Have you ever had your own business?
He's a lovely dog - how long have you had him?
Can I have the car tonight, Dad?
4

carry/hold

also have got [not in progressive] especially British English to be holding something or carrying it with you:
Have you got a match?
Look out! He's got a gun.
have something on/with you
Have you got any money on you?
I'm afraid I don't have my address book with me.
5

do something

British English to do something
have a look/walk/sleep/talk/think etc
We were just having a look around.
Are you going to have a swim?
6

eat/drink/smoke

to eat, drink, or smoke something:
She sat down and had another drink.
Someone had been having a cigarette in the toilet.
have lunch/a meal etc
I usually have breakfast at about seven o'clock.
7

experience

to experience something or be affected by something:
We've been having a lot of difficulties with our new computer system.
I'm afraid your son has had a serious accident.
He is in hospital having treatment for a knee injury.
I hope you have a good holiday.
have a good/terrible etc time
Thanks for everything - we had a great time.
have somebody doing something
He found it quite natural to have people fussing over him.
8

idea/feeling

also have got [not in progressive] especially British English to think of something or to experience a particular feeling:
If you have any good ideas for presents, let me know.
I have lots of happy memories of my time in Japan.
He had an awful feeling of guilt.
9

disease/injury/pain

also have got [not in progressive ] especially British English to suffer from a disease, injury, or pain:
Sarah's got a cold.
One of the victims had a broken leg.
10

receive

also have got especially British English to receive something:
I had lots of phone calls.
have something from somebody
Have you had any news yet from Graham?
I expect he had some help from his father.
11

amount of time

also have got [not in progressive] especially British English if you have a particular amount of time, it is available for you to do something:
You have just 30 seconds to answer the question.
have time (to do something)
I haven't time to stop and talk just now.
12

have your hair cut/your house painted etc

to pay a professional person to cut your hair etc for you:
Where do you normally have your hair done?
We'd only just had a new engine put in.
13

have something stolen/broken/taken etc

XX if you have something stolen, broken etc, someone steals, breaks etc something that belongs to you:
She had all her jewellery stolen.
Mullins had his nose broken in a fight.
14

have something ready/done/finished etc

to have made something ready to be used, or have finished doing something:
I should have the car ready by Monday.
15

in a position or state

also have got [not in progressive] especially British English used to say that your body or something else is in a particular position or state, because you moved or did something
have something open/closed/on etc
I had my eyes half-closed.
Janice likes to have the window open.
She had her back to the door.
have something doing something
He's always got the stereo playing.
16

family/friends

also have got [not in progressive] especially British English used to say that there is someone who is your relation or friend:
She has an uncle in Wisconsin.
It was nice for Alice to have friends of her own age.
17

job/duty

also have got [not in progressive] especially British English to be employed in a particular job or to be responsible for doing something:
Her boyfriend has a well-paid job.
The headteacher has responsibility for the management of the school.
have something to do
I can't stand here talking - I have work to do (=there is work that I must do).
18

employ/be in charge of

also have got [not in progressive] especially British English to employ or be in charge of a group of workers:
Margaret Gillies currently has a team of 20 volunteers working for her.
19

goods/rooms available

also have got [not in progressive ] especially British English if a shop or a hotel has goods or rooms, they are available for you to buy or use:
Do you have any single rooms?
They didn't have any sweaters in my size.
20

have (got) somebody with you

if you have someone with you, they are present with you:
Luckily I had a friend with me who spoke German.
21

hold somebody

also have got [not in progressive] especially British English to hold someone violently by a part of their body:
They had him by the throat.
22

visitors/guests

if you have visitors or guests, they have come to your home, office etc:
Sorry, I didn't realize you had visitors.
We had friends to stay over the weekend.
23

event

if you have an event such as a meeting, party, or concert, it happens because you have organized it:
We're having a party on Saturday - you're very welcome to come.
24

effect

to cause a particular result:
a mistake that could have disastrous results
Cardew was having a bad influence on the other students.
25

opportunity

used to say that an opportunity or choice is available for you:
If you have the chance, you should go and see it - it's a really good film.
Women managers have a choice as to whether they wear trousers or a skirt.
Last year I had the honour of meeting the Duke of Edinburgh.
26

baby

if a woman has a baby, it is born from her body:
Anna insisted on having the baby at home.
27

make somebody do something

[not in progressive]
a) to affect someone in a way that makes them start doing something
have somebody laughing/crying etc
Within minutes he had the whole audience laughing and clapping.
b) to persuade or order someone to do something
have somebody doing something
She had me doing all kinds of jobs for her.
have somebody do something especially American English
I'll have Hudson show you to your room.
28

have done with something

to finish or settle an argument or a difficult situation:
I should throw you out now and have done with it.
29

rumour/legend/word has it

used when you are reporting what people say or what a story says:
Rumour has it that Kim is not his child.
30

have (got) something/somebody (all) to yourself

if you have a place, time, or person all to yourself, you do not have to share them with anyone else:
He couldn't wait to have Beth all to himself.
It was the first time I'd had a room to myself.
31

sex

informal to have sex with someone:
I expect she's had lots of men.
32

have it off/away with somebody

British English informal to have sex with someone
33 spoken

can/could/may I have

say this to politely ask someone to give you something:
Can I have the bill, please?
Could we have our ball back?
34 spoken

I'll have/we'll have

say this to ask for something that you have chosen in a restaurant or shop:
I'll have a T-bone steak and chips, please.
35 spoken

offering somebody something

used to offer something to someone:
Have another sandwich.
Won't you have a drink before you go?
Please have a seat, and the doctor will be right with you.
36 spoken

not allow

won't/can't have something

used to say that someone will not allow something to happen:
They're trying to play tricks on me again, but I won't have it.
won't/can't have somebody doing something
I won't have you walking home all by yourself.
We can't have people wandering about on private land.
37 spoken

somebody had (got) it coming

used to say that you are not sorry that something bad has happened to someone, because they deserved it:
I'm not surprised his wife left him - he's had it coming for years.
38 spoken

I've got it

used to say you have suddenly thought of the solution to a problem or that you suddenly understand a situation
39 spoken

you have me there

also you've got me there used to say that you do not know the answer to a question:
'What makes you think women can't do that kind of work?' He scratched his head. 'Well, now, you've got me there.'
40 spoken

I'll have you know

used to start to tell someone something when you are annoyed with them:
I'll have you know you're insulting the woman I love.
41 spoken

have (got) it in for somebody

to want to make life difficult for someone because you dislike them:
Dean thinks his teachers have it in for him.
42 spoken

somebody/something has had it

a) if someone has had it, they are going to fail or die, or be in serious trouble:
Press the wrong button and you've had it.
b) if someone has had it, they are very tired or annoyed and cannot continue with something:
I can't believe he's done it again. I've had it with him!
c) British English if something has had it, it no longer works and cannot be repaired:
The engine's had it.
43 spoken

be not having any (of that)

to refuse to agree to something, listen to someone etc:
I tried to explain to her, but she just wasn't having any of it.
44 spoken

somebody has been had

used to say that someone has been deceived, for example by being tricked into paying too much:
You paid £200? You've been had!

have (got) something against somebody/something

phrasal verb
to dislike or be opposed to someone or something for a particular reason:
I don't know what it is, but Roger seems to have something against women.
I can't see what you've got against the idea.
I have nothing against foreigners (=have no reason to dislike them).

have (got) somebody in

phrasal verb
if you have someone in, they are doing some work in your home, for example building work:
We've had the builders in all week, so everything's in a mess.

have on

1

have (got) something on

to be wearing a piece of clothing or type of clothing:
He had his best suit on.
Jimmy had nothing on but his socks.
2

have (got) the TV/radio/washing machine etc on

if you have your television, radio etc on, you have switched it on and it is working:
Billie has the radio on all day long.
3

be having somebody on

especially British English to be trying to make someone believe something that is not true, especially as a joke:
Don't believe a word he says. He's having you on!
4

have (got) something on

British English to have arranged to do something, go somewhere etc, especially when this means you cannot do something else:
Sorry, I can't help you this weekend - I've got too much on already.
5

have (got) something on somebody

to know about something bad that someone has done:
What do the police have on him?
6

have (got) nothing on somebody/something

informal to not be nearly as good as someone or something else:
Rock 'n' roll has got nothing on these African rhythms.

have something out

phrasal verb
1 to have a tooth etc removed by a medical operation
2

have it out (with somebody)

informal to settle a disagreement or difficult situation by talking to the person involved, especially when you are angry with them:
I'm going round to his house to have it out with him.

have somebody over

phrasal verb
if you have someone over, they come to your house for a meal, drink etc because you have invited them:
We must have you over for dinner before we leave.

have somebody up

phrasal verb
to make someone go to a court of law because you think they have committed a crime
have somebody up for something
Last year he was had up for drunken driving.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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