# have on

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/have-on
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to wear a piece of clothing, jewelry, or a pair of glasses.

For teachers: to be wearing a garment or accessory; functions as a stative phrasal verb indicating a current state of dress.

## Examples

- She has a red coat on today.
- I didn't recognize him at first because he had a hat and sunglasses on.
- The suspect was reported to have on a dark navy blazer and tan trousers at the time of the incident.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am having a coat on." but "I have a coat on." — this phrase is stative and is almost never used in the continuous '-ing' form.

## Usage notes

- usually separable; the object (clothing) often sits between 'have' and 'on'.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'put on' (the action) and 'wear' (the state); 'have on' is more common in spoken English when describing someone's current appearance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.