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
Recent Examples on the Web
Taylor Wilson: There's clearly a gap between the haves and have-nots.
—
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024
In the meantime, inequality is passed down from generation to generation, giving the children of the wealthy a better shot at getting into the top schools and living in the best neighborhoods, perpetuating a cycle of ever-deeper division between the haves and the have-nots.
—Joseph E. Stiglitz, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019
And given that homeownership is the ticket to wealth generation in America, that pessimism exacerbates the risk that the divide between the haves and have-nots will only grow.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 29 July 2024
Speaking of the haves and have-nots, NBC has set up a caste system where not all sports are created equal.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for the haves 
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024
In the meantime, inequality is passed down from generation to generation, giving the children of the wealthy a better shot at getting into the top schools and living in the best neighborhoods, perpetuating a cycle of ever-deeper division between the haves and the have-nots.
—Joseph E. Stiglitz, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019
And given that homeownership is the ticket to wealth generation in America, that pessimism exacerbates the risk that the divide between the haves and have-nots will only grow.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 29 July 2024
Speaking of the haves and have-nots, NBC has set up a caste system where not all sports are created equal.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for the haves
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the haves.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the haves
Cite this Entry
“The haves.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20haves. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share