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noun B1 Intermediate Common

harbor

HAH-buh
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Also spelled harbour (UK spelling)

Harbor (noun) means a sheltered area of water where ships can dock or anchor safely. Example: “Sailors tied up their yachts in the quiet harbor for the night.”

noun
1
A sheltered area of water where ships can dock or anchor safely.
"Sailors tied up their yachts in the quiet harbor for the night."
"We walked along the harbor and watched the ferries come in."
"The fishing boats returned to the harbor just before the storm hit."
verb
1
To provide shelter or refuge for someone or something, including secretly hiding a fugitive.
"The old barn harbors dozens of bats during the winter months."
"The family was accused of harboring an escaped prisoner."
"She admitted she still harbored some resentment toward her old boss."

How to use harbor

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sheltered dock for ships, or (as a verb) to secretly shelter someone or hold onto a feeling.

UK vs US

This is the American spelling; British English uses "harbour."

Easily confused with
harbour →
Common pairings
harbor a fugitive harbor resentment safe harbor harbor doubts
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Word forms

Plural
harbors
Third person singular
harbors
Past tense
harbored
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Sailors tied up their yachts in the quiet _____ for the night.

Etymology

From Old English herebeorg ("shelter, lodgings"), from roots meaning "army" and "protection" — literally a safe place for a group to camp.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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port haven anchorage dock marina mooring seaport harbour entertain hold nurse bear

Antonyms

banish oust

Related words

have do support act bring include hold stand

Rhymes for harbor

arbor
See all rhymes for harbor →

Frequently asked questions

What does “harbor” mean?
The word “harbor” means a sheltered area of water where ships can dock or anchor safely. In plain terms, a sheltered dock for ships, or (as a verb) to secretly shelter someone or hold onto a feeling.
How do you pronounce “harbor”?
“Harbor” is pronounced HAH-buh (/ˈhɑɹbɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “harbor” in a sentence?
Here is “harbor” used in a sentence: “The fishing boats returned to the harbor just before the storm hit.”
What part of speech is “harbor”?
Depending on how it is used, “harbor” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “harbor” come from?
The word “harbor” comes from Old English. From Old English herebeorg ("shelter, lodgings"), from roots meaning "army" and "protection" — literally a safe place for a group to camp.
Is “harbor” a common word?
“Harbor” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “harbor” have?
“Harbor” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sheltered area of water where ships can dock or anchor safely.
What is the difference between "harbor" and "harbour"?
They are the same word with different spellings: "harbor" is the American spelling and "harbour" is the British and Commonwealth spelling. Both refer to a sheltered area of water where ships can dock or anchor safely.
What is the difference between a harbor and a port?
A harbor is a sheltered stretch of water where ships can anchor safely, while a port is a harbor that also has commercial facilities such as docks, cranes, and terminals for cargo and passengers. Every port needs a harbor, but not every harbor is a port.
What is the difference between "harbor" and "haven"?
A harbor is specifically a sheltered body of water for ships, while a haven is any place of safety or refuge, which may or may not involve water. "Haven" is often used figuratively, as in "a safe haven."

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