haven

[hey-vuhn]

noun

1. a harbor or port.

2. any place of shelter and safety; refuge; asylum.

verb (used with object)

1. to shelter, as in a haven.

haven

/ ˈheɪvən /

noun

1. a port, harbour, or other sheltered place for shipping

2. a place of safety or sanctuary; shelter

verb

1. (tr) to secure or shelter in or as if in a haven

Other Word Forms

• havenless adjective
• havenward adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of haven¹

First recorded before 1050; Middle English; Old English hæfen; cognate with Dutch haven, German Hafen, Old Norse hǫfn; akin to Old English hæf, Old Norse haf sea

Word History and Origins

Origin of haven¹

Old English hæfen, from Old Norse höfn; related to Middle Dutch havene, Old Irish cuan to bend

Synonym Study

See harbor.

Example Sentences

Things never got appreciably better, the Bruins left adrift without a haven in sight.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Dozens of small companies incorporated in Caribbean tax havens and operating in China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia have flooded onto the Nasdaq stock exchange over the past few years.

Read more on Barron's

Refugees in Denmark are entitled to a one-year renewable residency permit, and are encouraged to return home as soon as authorities deem there is no longer a need for a safe haven.

Read more on Barron's

Lately, gold has been falling alongside U.S. stocks, which suggests a more dire situation for markets could be afoot — especially if it means there is no safe haven for investors to turn to.

Read more on MarketWatch

“For generations,” he said, “Miami has been a haven for those fleeing communist tyranny in South Africa.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• asylum 
• retreat 
• sanctuary 
• shelter 

When To Use

What is a haven?

A haven is any safe place, as in The woods can be a haven from a busy world.A safe place is the most common meaning of haven and can be used in many ways. For example, something can be a haven for a person (like your bedroom might be), for a particular behavior (as in a haven for corruption), or for a belief or religion. A haven can be a place safe from something negative or dangerous or a place safe for something negative or dangerous.A haven is also a harbor or port. In other words, it’s a place for a ship or other seagoing vehicle to dock safely or take refuge in during a storm.Haven appears in the phrase safe haven. A safe haven is a safe place for someone or something who is threatened.Haven also appears in the phrase tax haven. This is a location that has very low taxation rates for outside investors. The idea is that a tax haven provides a shelter from taxation.Example: My bedroom is a haven of peace in the midst of the chaos of Christmas decoration prep.