The crossword clue “not have” most often clues the verb LACK in American- style and British-style crosswords.

Most common answer

  • LACK – by far the most common 4‑letter answer for “not have” or “don’t have” in crossword databases and past puzzles.

Other possible answers

Depending on grid length and crossing letters, setters sometimes use:

  • GO WITHOUT – idiomatic phrase meaning to not have something, often in longer themed entries.
  • KEEP FROM – as in “to keep from having something,” sometimes clued more cryptically.
  • IN NEED – fits a definition like “not have enough (of something).”

How to choose the right one

  • Check the number of squares in your grid.
    • 4 letters → most likely LACK.
  • Look at the crossing letters you already have; if they match L‑A‑C‑K, that confirms it.
  • If the entry is longer (8–10 letters), consider phrases like GOWITHOUT (often written without a space in grids).

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.