harbor

American

[hahr-ber] / ˈhɑr bər /

especially British, harbour

noun

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.
such a body of water having docks or port facilities.
any place of shelter or refuge.

The old inn was a harbor for tired travelers.

Synonyms:

retreat, sanctuary, asylum

verb (used with object)

to give shelter to; offer refuge to.

They harbored the refugees who streamed across the borders.

Synonyms:

lodge, protect
to conceal; hide.

to harbor fugitives.
to keep or hold in the mind; maintain; entertain.

to harbor suspicion.
to house or contain.
to shelter (a vessel), as in a harbor.

verb (used without object)

(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

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.

Sarcopenia is a form of muscular dystrophy associated with aging and is a popular condition for biotech companies that harbor greater goals of reversing or slowing aging to target.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Dominating a sandy stretch of Qatar’s northern coast, Ras Laffan is a sprawling industrial fortress of pipes, flare stacks and loading berths built around the world’s largest artificial harbor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Dozens of shipping containers on a vessel at the Port of Long Beach were lost or damaged after heavy weather sent them toppling over in the harbor, the Coast Guard said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

“Planned shipments are on schedule and the Port of Long Beach remains a safe harbor in the sea of trade and geopolitical uncertainty,” said port CEO Noel Hacegaba.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

The first mate told him the crew was scared and wanted to sail into a safe harbor for the night.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023