harper
noun
a person who plays the harp.
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harpejji.
harper
1 American
[hahr-per]
/ ˈhɑr pər /
Harper
2
American
[hahr-per]
/ ˈhɑr pər /
noun
-
James, 1795–1869, and his brothers John, 1797–1875, (Joseph) Wesley, 1801–70, and Fletcher, 1806–77, U.S. printers and publishers.
-
a male or female given name.
Harper
British
/ ˈhɑːpə /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of harper
before 900; Middle English; Old English hearpere. See harp, -er 1
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:
When they became international stars in the 1970s, the group hired a harper named Derek Bell to play the old O’Carolan tunes, which as a result became part of every Irish band’s repertoire.
From Washington Post ● May 12, 2016
Mead has been spilled on the oak and the king's strong-thewed companions, none over 30, sprawl, snore or listen intently to the end of a long-drawn saga sung by Maccus, the harper.
From Time Magazine Archive
She was the lovely, golden-haired harper who had tried for her talent and failed.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
I could no longer pay the cook and the harper, and Lynesse grew wild when I spoke of pawning her jewels.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
The harper gave him back some answer, and Hrothgar spoke again.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
He was expected to be one of Team USA’s most prominent power hitters alongside Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
PC Harper's widow, Lissie Harper, has been among a growing number calling for Cole and Bowers to be denied early release from prison.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
The mother of PC Andrew Harper also said she was "devastated" to learn two men jailed after her son was killed will still be eligible for early release.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Despite the difference in scale, LA28 chief operating officer John Harper called the successful World Cup’s local matches “an immense learning opportunity for us in a lot of ways.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
But as soon as he steps through the front door of their duplex in Harper Woods, Father Mike suffers an immediate drop in status.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
When gloved harpers set those overhead strings vibrating, the Kennedy Center architecture will be reflected in the tone.
From Washington Post ● May 12, 2016
"Your father—" "—will thank me, when I hand him his kingdom. I mean to do a deed that the harpers will sing of for a thousand years."
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
As the summer winds had howled up the Notch, lashing the leafy branches of the birches and beeches, so now the winter winds howled down, harpers that struck dismal notes from the bare trees.
From King Spruce, A Novel by Day, Holman
Thither goes the gold and the silver and cloth of vair, and cloth of gris, and harpers and makers, and the prince of this world.
From The English Novel in the Time of Shakespeare by Jusserand, J. J.
At first it was a summer boothie or hunting lodge to Welsh chieftains, but subsequently expanded into the roomy, comfortable dwelling of Welsh squires, where hospitality was much practised and bards and harpers liberally encouraged.
From Wild Wales The People, Laguage & Scenery by Borrow, George Henry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
