Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for "harbour"

harbour

American  
[hahr-ber] / ˈhɑr bər /

noun

Chiefly British.
  1. harbor.


harbour British  
/ ˈhɑːbə /

noun

  1. a sheltered port

  2. a place of refuge or safety

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to give shelter to

    to harbour a criminal

  2. (tr) to maintain secretly

    to harbour a grudge

  3. to shelter (a vessel) in a harbour or (of a vessel) to seek shelter

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Spelling

See -or 1.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of harbour

Old English herebeorg, from here troop, army + beorg shelter; related to Old High German heriberga hostelry, Old Norse herbergi

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The Memorial Garden, hanging baskets along Victoria Street, flower displays at the Channel Islands' only railway station, and planting schemes at both the harbour and airport are among areas being showcased.

From BBC Jul. 12, 2026

As we talk in Tombo harbour close to Freetown, he points out to a few large trawlers on the horizon.

From BBC Jul. 5, 2026

The Ras Laffan Port is the largest artificial harbour in the world and has the world's largest LNG export facility.

From BBC Jun. 22, 2026

Forbes said the warnings signs had since been improved on the harbour to ensure speed limits are "very clear".

From BBC Jun. 12, 2026

Thus the coastguard on duty on the eastern side of the harbour, who at once ran down to the little pier, was the first to climb on board.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training