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  • I've
    I've
    contraction of I have.
  • -ive
    -ive
    a suffix of adjectives (and nouns of adjectival origin) expressing tendency, disposition, function, connection, etc..

I've

1 American  
[ahyv] / aɪv /
  1. contraction of I have.


-ive 2 American  
  1. a suffix of adjectives (and nouns of adjectival origin) expressing tendency, disposition, function, connection, etc..

    active; corrective; destructive; detective; passive; sportive.


-ive 1 British  

suffix

  1. (forming adjectives) indicating a tendency, inclination, character, or quality

    divisive

    prohibitive

    festive

    massive

  2. ( forming nouns of adjectival origin )

    detective

    expletive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

I've 2 British  
/ aɪv /

contraction

  1. I have

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

See contraction.

Etymology

Origin of -ive

< Latin -īvus; in some words, representing French -ive, feminine of -if

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I’m sorry, I’ve buckled under the pressure,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

"My knee is on the mend and I’ve started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros," Draper posted on Instagram.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

I’ve been very comfortable with the ups and downs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Justice Elena Kagan’s strenuous dissent notes all the history I’ve recounted.

From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026

Over the two and a half years that I’ve been playing with him, he’s kept a record of every word we’ve played, and every point we’ve scored, in that little blue book.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam