harbor

American  

[hahr-ber] / ˈhɑr bər /

especially British, harbour

noun

1. a part of a body of water along the shore deep enough for anchoring a ship and so situated with respect to coastal features, whether natural or artificial, as to provide protection from winds, waves, and currents.

2. such a body of water having docks or port facilities.

3. any place of shelter or refuge.

   The old inn was a harbor for tired travelers.

   Synonyms:

   retreat, sanctuary, asylum

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verb (used with object)

1. to give shelter to; offer refuge to.

   They harbored the refugees who streamed across the borders.

   Synonyms:

   lodge, protect

2. to conceal; hide.

   to harbor fugitives.

3. to keep or hold in the mind; maintain; entertain.

   to harbor suspicion.

4. to house or contain.

5. to shelter (a vessel), as in a harbor.

verb (used without object)

1. (of a vessel) to take shelter in a harbor.

Related Words

Harbor, haven, port indicate a shelter for ships. A harbor may be natural or artificially constructed or improved: a fine harbor on the eastern coast. A haven is usually a natural harbor that can be utilized by ships as a place of safety; the word is common in literary use: a haven in time of storm; a haven of refuge. A port is a harbor viewed especially in its commercial relations, though it is frequently applied in the meaning of harbor or haven also: a thriving port; any old port in a storm. See cherish.

Other Word Forms

• harborer noun
• harborless adjective
• harborous adjective
• unharbored adjective

Etymology

Origin of harbor

before 1150; Middle English herber ( we ), herberge, Old English herebeorg lodgings, quarters ( here army + ( ge ) beorg refuge); cognate with German Herberge

Explanation

A harbor is a safe place providing refuge and comfort. If you're traveling, the harbor provided by a warm hotel is welcome. For ships, a harbor is a sheltered port area shielded from waves, where it's safe to dock. Harbor can also be used as a verb, which describes maintaining a belief or a feeling. If you harbor ill-will toward your neighbor John, you don't like him much. Harbor can also mean you hold back your ideas and don't express them openly. John may have no idea you hate him if you harbor your true feelings deep inside, but pretend you like him to his face.

Example Sentences

Sea lions like to flock there because there is plenty of food and it’s protected from predators, harbor officials told the outlet.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

In March, two cargos of jet fuel went to Europe from New York harbor, which Cinquegrana said it was a “very rare” occurrence that wouldn’t have made economic sense before the war.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

It’s right on the harbor and you can sit outside and look at the boats coming in and out.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

One tanker left from New York harbor to Europe this month, an exceptionally rare occurrence, according to Denton Cinquegrana, chief oil analyst at OPIS, which is owned by Dow Jones publisher Barron’s.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

I half expected to see the shark’s white belly stretched out at the bottom of the harbor, as though its weight had split the bands and the shark had just sunk to the seafloor.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Related Words

• dock
• inlet
• pier
• port
• road
• wharf