have not met

USAGE SUMMARY

'have not met' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You could use it when speaking about two people who have not yet encountered one another. For example, "I have heard so much about you, but we have not met yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I have not met them.

The New Yorker

They have not met before.

The New Yorker

"I have not met with him yet.

The New Yorker

They have not met since.

The Guardian - Sport

The parties have not met since June 30.

The New York Times - Sports

"I have not met with del Toro.

The Guardian - Film

The Washington Capitals have not met expectations.

The New York Times - Sports

"[Developed nations] have not met their targets.

The Guardian

The two still have not met.

The New York Times

They have not met in two weeks.

The New York Times - Sports

We have not met any police officers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have not met" to clearly indicate that an encounter or meeting has not yet occurred. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "had not met" when simply indicating that two people haven't encountered each other yet. "Had not met" implies a past perfect tense, suggesting the lack of a meeting before a specific point in the past, whereas "have not met" is generally preferred to just describe that two people don't know each other.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have not met" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the absence of a prior encounter. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts, highlighting its role in expressing a lack of previous interaction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have not met" is a versatile phrase used to express the absence of a prior meeting or encounter. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal communication. While typically neutral in tone, the phrase's formality can be adjusted based on context. Be mindful of tense when using this phrase, avoiding past perfect ("had not met") when present perfect ("have not met") suffices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

never met

This alternative is more direct and emphasizes the absence of a meeting.

haven't encountered

This alternative emphasizes a lack of direct interaction or confrontation.

have not encountered

More formal version of "haven't encountered", emphasizing a lack of direct interaction or confrontation.

have yet to meet

Implies that a meeting is anticipated but hasn't occurred yet.

are unacquainted

This formal alternative highlights a lack of familiarity.

are not acquainted

Similar to "are unacquainted", but slightly less formal.

remain strangers

Emphasizes the continued lack of acquaintance between individuals.

have not crossed paths

Suggests that the individuals' lives have not intersected.

never crossed paths

A more emphatic way of saying that individuals' lives have not intersected.

have not been introduced

Highlights the lack of a formal introduction between individuals.

FAQs

How can I use "have not met" in a sentence?

You can use "have not met" to indicate that two or more people have not yet been introduced or encountered each other. For example, "Although we've corresponded by email, we "have not met" in person."

What are some alternatives to saying "have not met"?

Alternatives to "have not met" include phrases like "never met", "are unacquainted", or "have yet to meet", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has not met" instead of "have not met"?

"Has not met" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "He has not met the deadline"), while "have not met" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "They have not met before") or the pronoun "I" or "you" (e.g., "I have not met him").

What is the difference between "have not met" and "had not met"?

"Have not met" indicates that a meeting has not occurred up to the present time. "Had not met" indicates that a meeting had not occurred before a specific point in the past. For instance, "I had not met her before the party" implies the meeting happened at the party, but "I "have not met" her" implies we still haven't met.