harass
huh-RAS
Harass (verb) means to repeatedly trouble, pester, or intimidate someone, especially in a way that is unwanted or illegal. Example: “He was fired for harassing a colleague over several months.”
verb
1
To repeatedly trouble, pester, or intimidate someone, especially in a way that is unwanted or illegal.
"He was fired for harassing a colleague over several months."
"The company introduced a strict policy against harassing customers online."
2
To wear someone down with repeated demands or attacks.
"Small guerrilla units harassed the retreating army for days."
How to use harass
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo repeatedly bother, intimidate, or attack someone.
Common mistake
Note the spelling: one R, two S's — "harass," not "harrass."
Common pairings
harass an employee
sexually harass
harass and intimidate
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Word forms
- Plural
- harasses
- Third person singular
- harasses
- Past tense
- harassed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was fired for _____ a colleague over several months.
Etymology
From French harasser ("to exhaust, torment"), possibly from Old French harer, a command used to set a dog on someone or something.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “harass” mean?
The word “harass” means to repeatedly trouble, pester, or intimidate someone, especially in a way that is unwanted or illegal. In plain terms, to repeatedly bother, intimidate, or attack someone.
How do you pronounce “harass”?
“Harass” is pronounced huh-RAS (/həˈɹæs/ in IPA).
How do you use “harass” in a sentence?
Here is “harass” used in a sentence: “He was fired for harassing a colleague over several months.”
What part of speech is “harass”?
“Harass” is a verb.
Where does the word “harass” come from?
The word “harass” comes from Old French. From French harasser ("to exhaust, torment"), possibly from Old French harer, a command used to set a dog on someone or something.
Is “harass” a common word?
“Harass” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “harass” have?
“Harass” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to repeatedly trouble, pester, or intimidate someone, especially in a way that is unwanted or illegal.
