haven't

See also: havent

English

Etymology

have +‎ -n't

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈhævn̩t/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Homophone: Havant

Verb

haven't

  1. have not (negative form of have[1])
    • 1694, Titus Maccius Plautus, Plautus's comedies, Amphitryon, Epidicus, and Rudens, Made English: With Critical Remarks Upon Each Play, page 170:
      Sce.: Which I'd grant ye, if ye came at Midnight; but now I haven't the conveniency o' supplying your Wants.'

Usage notes

In North America, haven't is almost always used only when followed by got or as an auxiliary. Thus I haven't any money would typically be I don't have any money or occasionally I haven't got any money, but very rarely as I haven't any money, which would be more common in British English. Auxiliary use, as in I haven't seen him, is fully standard in all varieties.

Synonyms

References
  1. Arnold M. Zwicky and Geoffrey K. Pullum, Cliticization vs. Inflection: English n’t, Language 59 (3), 1983, pp. 502-513
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