Phrase guide

have the heart

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To have the capacity (to do something); to be able to bring oneself to do something, especially something cruel or hardhearted.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I didn't have the heart to tell him we wouldn't ever come back to see him.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: nænne — have the capacity for
  • German: das Herz haben — have the capacity for
  • Romanian: se îndura — have the capacity for