“Having” can function as a main verb, an auxiliary verb, a gerund, or a participle, each with its own distinct role and grammatical properties. Understanding these different functions is essential for using “having” correctly and effectively. Noun having (countable and uncountable, plural havings) The act of possessing; ownership. Learn the meaning and correct usage of having. Our guide provides clear grammar rules and real-world examples from authoritative sources to help you write with confidence. The HAVING clause is used to filter the results of a GROUP BY query based on aggregate functions. Unlike the WHERE clause, which filters individual rows before grouping, the HAVING clause filters groups after the aggregation has been performed. To possess or contain as a constituent part: a car that has air bags. 2. To occupy a particular relation to: had many disciples. 3. To possess knowledge of or facility in: has very little Spanish. 4. To hold in the mind; entertain: had doubts about their loyalty. 5. To use or exhibit in action: have compassion. 6. a. Meaning of having in English having present participle of have (Definition of having from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press) Noun a society that discriminates between the haves and the have-nots. 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. HAVING definition: present participle of have. See examples of having used in a sentence. Synonyms for HAVING: hands, possession, control, keeping, acquisition, gain, owning, possessing; Antonyms of HAVING: loss, misplacement, deprivation, mislaying, privation, dispossession, forfeit, penalty The word having is the present participle form of the verb “have,” used to describe possessing, holding, or experiencing something. For example, you might say, “She is having a great time at the party,” which means she is experiencing enjoyment at the party.