harbor

American  

[hahr-ber] / ˈhɑr bər /

especially British, harbour

noun

• harbors
  plural

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

---

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.

Synonym Usage

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• harbors
  plural

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

See Examples For:

harbor harbors

The researchers excluded non-placental mammals that lay eggs or harbor their newborns in belly-pouches and produce extremely small younglings from these calculations.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

It’s difficult to ignore the picturesque views of the harbor and famed Queen Mary, particularly at sunset.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

Classic venues like a harbor cruise or stadium luxury box can set the scene for co-workers to get to know one another.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

Vance's speech came as dozens of tall ships from more than 20 countries sailed into New York harbor to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

Then, the once-pride of the British Navy was placed on a huge barge for the short journey into the harbor and to the dry dock.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

River otters are not to be confused with sea otters, which live in the ocean, bays and harbors and can grow to be up to five feet and 100 pounds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

He recently put Claude AI to the test, posing as a healthy, single, 62-year-old woman with some savings who wants to retire at 65 but harbors longevity and inflation concerns.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

He supports the geotubes, but harbors no illusions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026

"Our analysis shows that these animals originated in the deep ocean, a habitat which still harbors species like the ram's horn squid," says Sanchez.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 1, 2026

I didn’t know who I should follow, or even which way the harbor was, and weren’t there a lot of harbors in Boston?

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

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