the haves

plural noun

: people who have a lot of money and possessions : wealthy people
—usually used in the phrase the haves and the have-nots
the gap between the haves and the have-nots

Examples of the haves in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities explores greed, avarice and racial divisions between the haves and have nots in 1980s New York City. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026 But jaundiced observations about the haves and the have-nots eventually reached a point of diminishing returns. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026 On the other side of the haves and have-nots equation, states that had been on the upswing as far as production spending and activity only a few years ago have seen dips this quarter, including in Georgia, New Mexico and Illinois. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026 The rift between the haves and have-nots is growing, and there seems to be a growing trend to annihilate people of color. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for the haves

Rhymes for the haves

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Browse Nearby Words

the have-nots
the haves
the heart
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Cite this Entry

“The haves.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20haves. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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