Reading Theme:
Do You Have an Appointment? Meaning and Usage (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：ask about scheduled meeting (Do you have an appointment?)
Do you have an appointment?
/duː juː hæv ən əˈpɔɪntmənt/
phrase
A polite question you ask someone to check if they have arranged a time to meet or see someone in advance.
ask about scheduled meeting
➕
/æsk əˈbaʊt ˈʃɛdjuːld ˈmiːtɪŋ/
phrase
A polite question used to verify if a person has arranged a specific time to see someone, typically in a professional or service context.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From 'appointment' (Latin 'appunctare' – to set a point), literally 'to fix a time'.
💡 Mnemonic
Imagine a point (appoint) on a calendar – you ask if someone has marked that point.
📖 Example
You walked into the dentist's office with a toothache, and the receptionist smiled and asked, "Do you have an appointment?"
Upon entering the dentist's office with a toothache, the person is greeted by the receptionist who inquires whether they have a scheduled appointment.
🔗 Collocations
make an appointment – to schedule a meeting with someone
have an appointment – to possess a pre-arranged time slot
cancel an appointment – to call off a previously scheduled meeting
🔄 Synonyms
inquire about a booking (phrase) – To ask if a reservation has been made
check for a reservation (phrase) – To verify if a time has been reserved in advance
ask if scheduled (phrase) – To request confirmation that a time has been arranged
🚫 Antonyms
Are you free? (phrase) – A question asking if someone has no prior engagements and is available immediately
📖 Cultural Story
This phrase is a standard polite inquiry in Western service culture, especially in healthcare and business, reflecting the social norm of scheduling meetings in advance to respect mutual time.
Meaning 2：check for prior engagement (Do you have an appointment?)
Do you have an appointment?
/duː juː hæv ən əˈpɔɪntmənt/
phrase
A way to ask if someone already has plans or a prior arrangement at a certain time.
check for prior engagement
➕
/tʃɛk fɔːr ˈpraɪər ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/
phrase
A way to ask if someone already has a pre-existing commitment or plan at a particular time.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
My colleague wanted to discuss the project at 3 PM, so I asked him, "Do you have an appointment with the manager then? I saw it on her calendar."
When a colleague proposed discussing a project at 3 PM, I asked him if he had a prior arrangement with the manager at that time, as I had seen it noted on her calendar.
🔗 Collocations
keep an appointment – to attend a scheduled meeting
schedule an appointment – to arrange a specific time for a meeting
reschedule an appointment – to change the time of a previously arranged meeting
🔄 Synonyms
ask about prior commitment (phrase) – To inquire whether someone is already occupied at a given time
confirm availability (phrase) – To check if someone has free time
verify scheduling (phrase) – To confirm that a time slot has been booked
🚫 Antonyms
Do you have free time? (phrase) – A question asking if someone is available without any prior plans
Wordbook
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