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to have

to have

1.0
To experience an illness, feeling, or problem
  • verb
  • /hæv/
translation icon : tener
  • Why does life have to be so stressful?
  • have difficulty
  • have trouble
  • have problems

You feel that we're having fun with him more.

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Examples

  • Our children shouldn't have to run from bullets.

  • Many people have anxiety when they are about to give a presentation.

  • Newton: "It appears that Master Peter is having a problem with his liver again."

    Academic text (2011)
  • You're taking it very well, I have to say.

  • Once you have identified your stressors and have plans in place, it is time for action.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Years after they graduate, many people still have nightmares about being unprepared for a test.

    Academic text (2011)
  • After his accident, he had to deal with constant pain for several months.

  • She had a feeling of dread before the big meeting.

Synonyms

to get
vsto have
3.5

To experience something unpleasant, for example punishment or criticism

is the general word for undergoing or being affected by conditions
to feel
vsto have
1.0

To notice an emotion or a physical sensation in your body

is broader including external events and conditions not only inner sensations
to take
vsto have
6.1

Become ill or suddenly feel unwell

is more neutral, covering any condition rather than only illnesses
to suffer
vsto have
2.0

To feel pain or be ill

is neutral and does not imply strong harm or distress
to experience
vsto have
2.1

To feel something while it happens to you

is used more generally for being affected by conditions or events
to receive
vsto have
965 1.0

To get a reaction such as praise or criticism

is more active and general covering being affected by events or conditions
to undergo
vsto have
170 3.9

To go through something often unpleasant or difficult

is used for general being affected not only for long processes
to sustain
vsto have
95 3.8

To suffer an injury or damage

is the general term covering simple being affected not only injuries

Antonyms

748 2.5

Get back to a normal state after a loss, for example health or money

Idioms

119 7.5

Argue angrily with someone about something

To not know anything about a subject or situation

72 7.6

To mean other similar things or people not mentioned

68 6.2

To be brave enough to do something bold or rude

to have a blast
  • Informal
41 5.2

To enjoy yourself a lot

That shows the work is finished or the result is ready

to have a ball
  • Informal
31 6.5

Enjoy yourself a lot

30 7.8

To deserve punishment because of your actions

27 7.2

To try to get the good parts of two opposite choices at the same time

To be naturally good at doing something

23 3.9

To be very busy with many tasks

17 8.2

To complain about something

16 4.2

Allow someone to do or choose what they want

to have a fit
  • Informal
16 5.3

To suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly

15 6.3

Wish someone a nice day or a good time as a friendly goodbye

to have the gall
  • Informal
14 7.9

Be bold enough to do something rude or shocking

to have it made
  • Informal
12 5.6

To be in a very lucky situation with little to worry about

Show kindness to someone who needs help

To be good at noticing small details and good qualities in things

we have a winner
  • Informal
9 5.8

You say this when someone wins or something works well

To think for yourself and make your own decisions

8 9.3

Get very upset or angry about something small

7 5.4

Happens by chance in a lucky, helpful way

To have a good reason or proof to support your claim

5 8.4

Have no chance of success

to have legs
  • Informal
5 7.7

Be likely to succeed or last a long time

Stand out for a special or rare quality

To be for a certain person, often you

4 7.0

To be good sometimes even if not overall

to let's have it
  • Informal
3 8.2

Tell us what you think

Feel sad and a little down

To have complete power over someone by controlling what they need or fear

To be very unlikely to succeed

To be organized and ready to do things well

To care about someone or something and want to help them

To show clearly that something is typical of a person or made by them

To be ready and organized before starting something

To be someone another person listens to for advice or influence

1 9.9

Threaten someone with very serious punishment, often as a joke

1 8.4

To be pregnant and expecting a baby

To cause a sharp feeling of hurt that lasts for a while

To work well with children so they feel comfortable

To feel very successful and have control of your life

To talk to yourself to think about and criticize your actions

To be wrong about something and later be forced to change your mind

1 8.8

To ask people for money by showing you need it

Able to think and act in a sensible, practical way

1 8.7

Have an operation that closes the tubes to the womb so she cannot get pregnant

To be rude enough to do something that shows no respect

1 9.1

To be very angry with someone and want to punish them

You are in a dangerous situation where giving up is as risky as staying

1 6.3

To be organized, prepared, and able to manage tasks and problems

Phrasal Verbs

1.0

To own something, including amounts and qualities

3.0

To touch each other's private parts for physical pleasure

Find something difficult or annoying

To be about something or connected to it

To enjoy yourself at an event or activity

446 1.0

To wear clothes or accessories

412 1.3

To check something carefully, for example an essay or a machine

Find something difficult to do

224 3.2

To think of a certain person, thing, or idea

210 4.5

Ask someone like a plumber to come to your home to do a job

209 1.0

Please sit down

to have a clue
  • Informal
111 4.1

To know even a little about something

106 3.3

To like someone as more than a friend, often secretly

Get hurt or have things damaged in an unexpected event

To receive guests at your home

46 3.1

To be able to give an opinion and influence a decision

44 8.1

To tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

33 4.3

Try doing something, often for the first time

Help make something happen or influence how it is done

to have at
  • Informal
26 7.9

To start something quickly and with a lot of energy

23 8.1

To have sex with someone

21 8.4

To keep being angry with someone and try to harm or blame them

To include someone as part of a team to work on a project

Eat a small amount of food as a quick snack

To understand something well enough to deal with it

To know someone's phone number so you can call them

to have a laugh
  • Informal
13 1.6

Enjoy something funny and laugh with others

12 6.0

To understand something fully and feel sure about it

11 3.4

To try doing something you have not done before

11 8.1

To angrily tell someone off

to have words
  • Informal
11 6.9

Talk angrily to someone because of a disagreement

Show strong or good qualities for a short time

To finish something and stop taking part in it

4 8.4

To be impressive, successful, or attractive in a way people notice

4 8.1

To use skill to control people or things to get what you want

Argue with someone and feel angry or upset afterward

Get a professional to do a job for you

To speak to someone in private about something sensitive

to have a go at it
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To have sex with someone

1 7.2

A woman who has surgery to permanently stop having children by closing her fallopian tubes

1 9.9

To have sex with someone, used in informal British English

To try to do something when you are not sure you will succeed

Invite people to your home to visit or eat

1 4.1

Know how to do something so well you can do it without thinking

To finish something unpleasant so you stop worrying

to have to punt
  • Informal
1 9.2

To delay deciding for now because it is difficult or unclear

1 7.2

To tell someone you are unhappy with them in an angry way

9.9

To have sex with someone

To secretly steal something

To celebrate and enjoy yourself loudly at a big party

8.2

Get angry and defensive when you feel criticized

To get what you want even when other people disagree

To be unable to control strong feelings or tiredness

9.9

Tell someone to stop talking or giving unwanted opinions

Hire professional painters to come and paint your home

8.2

To ask for money or help without trying to earn it

9.9

To deal with someone you do not approve of

To show that something could have happened in the past but did not

Compounds

7.3

A person who has little money and few things

A past event that could have happened but did not

How Severe

afflicted
5.9
to suffer
2.0
to have
1.0
to experience
2.1
to feel
1.0

Surface Forms

have infinitive
having present participle
has third person singular
had past
had past participle

Etymology

Have comes from the old English word habban, which meant 'to hold'. Think of 'having' an illness or feeling as 'holding' it inside you, which is why have can mean 'to experience' or be affected by something.