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• anchorage
  anchorage

  noun

  that portion of a harbor or area outside a harbor suitable for anchoring or in which ships are permitted to anchor.
• Anchorage
  Anchorage

  noun

  a seaport in S Alaska: earthquake 1964.

anchorage

¹ American  

[ang-ker-ij] / ˈæŋ kər ɪdʒ /

noun

• anchorages
  plural

1. that portion of a harbor or area outside a harbor suitable for anchoring or in which ships are permitted to anchor.

2. a charge for occupying such an area.

3. the act of anchoring or the state of being anchored.

4. that to which anything is fastened.

5. a means of anchoring or making fast.

6. something that can be relied on.

   The Bible is her anchorage.

7. (in a suspension bridge) a massive masonry or concrete construction securing a cable at each end.

8. Dentistry.

   1. an abutment.

   2. the locking in of a tooth filling by means of an undercut.

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Anchorage ² American  

[ang-ker-ij] / ˈæŋ kər ɪdʒ /

noun

1. a seaport in S Alaska: earthquake 1964.

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Anchorage ¹ British  

/ ˈæŋkərɪdʒ /

noun

1. the largest city in Alaska, a port in the south, at the head of Cook Inlet. Pop: 270 951 (2003 est)

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anchorage ² British  

/ ˈæŋkərɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act of anchoring

2. any place where a vessel is anchored

3. a place designated for vessels to anchor

4. a fee imposed for anchoring

5. anything used as an anchor

6. a source of security or strength

7. something that supplies a secure hold for something else

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anchorage ³ British  

/ ˈæŋkərɪdʒ /

noun

1. the cell or retreat of an anchorite

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Anchorage Cultural  

1. City in south-central Alaska; largest city in the state.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• anchorages
  plural

Etymology

Origin of anchorage

First recorded in 1400–50, anchorage is from the late Middle English word ankerage. See anchor, -age

Explanation

A place in the ocean where ships can lower their anchors and stay a while is called an anchorage. A large cruise ship in a small port will often wait at an anchorage while passengers disembark into smaller boats. An anchorage is similar to a mooring, a place to park your boat. But moorings are close to shore and allow you to tie up your boat. For larger vessels, an anchorage allows them to toss a heavy anchor over the side in deep water. Back in the days of enormous sailing ships, an anchorage was also a place to pause and wait for the wind to change. You can also use this maritime term to mean "the act of condition of anchoring" or "a fee for anchoring."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

anchorage Anchorage anchorages

Many ship owners have been organising supplies for their crews who are stranded in the strait, using small boats to deliver food and essentials to vessels at anchorage.

From BBC ● May 23, 2026

“Whenever the situation escalates, they reiterate the warning,” said a seafarer surnamed Wang whose vessel—carrying liquefied natural gas—has been stuck at an anchorage northwest of Dubai for four weeks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026

The ship "is currently being escorted by the national navy to a point of anchorage for further verifications," it added.

From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026

A week after the tempest, the anchorage of the Acapulco Yacht Club still looked like it had suffered intense bombardment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2023

Among the casualties was a stone-crab boat called the Molly Bell, which was tom from her anchorage and swept up a swollen tidal creek, where she wallowed and sank from sight.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

The park, a one-hour bush-plane flight from Anchorage, is known for its abundance of brown bears, horned puffins and critically endangered beluga whales.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

"The spirit of Anchorage has dissipated," said Russian political analyst Fyodor Lukyanov -- close to the ruling elite -- in August.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

The political consultant Amber Lee declined to comment when reached by the Anchorage Daily News.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

Several all-time records were broken, including a reading of 90 degrees Fahrenheit at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026

I hadn't had a bath since I left Anchorage.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

Regardless, last week, the Danish government said it would intensify environmental inspections of ships at Skagen Red, one of Scandinavia’s busiest anchorages at the northern tip of Denmark.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2025

China's bunkering hub Ningbo-Zhoushan in the eastern province of Zhejiang has temporarily suspended discharging and loading oil, while tankers are ordered to stay at anchorages as typhoon Muifa is expected to land later on Wednesday.

From Reuters ● Sep. 14, 2022

Laird said he has 42 anchorages around the region to choose from but only 12 of them are suitable for the largest ships.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 24, 2021

The street once led to Pool Beag, or little pool, among the deepest anchorages in Dublin Harbor.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2018

From this vantage point he jealously inspected the yachts of the Seattlites who cruised past South Beach on their way to anchorages in Amity Harbor.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson