# harbor

/ˈhɑɹbɝ/ (US) · /hˈɑːbɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/harbor
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. shelter for ships

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a protected area of water next to the land where ships can stay safely.

For teachers: a sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships.

- The fishing boats returned to the harbor before the storm arrived.
- The natural harbor provided a strategic advantage, allowing the fleet to remain protected from the Atlantic swells while undergoing essential repairs.

### 2. a place of safety

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Literary

any place that gives you safety or protection from danger.

For teachers: a place of shelter or refuge from external threats or harsh conditions.

- The small library was a quiet harbor for students during the busy exam week.
- For many refugees, the community center served as a safe harbor where they could find legal advice and emotional support.

### 3. to keep a thought or feeling

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

to keep a particular thought or feeling in your mind for a long time.

For teachers: to maintain or persistently entertain a specific thought, emotion, or suspicion in one's mind.

- He did not harbor any bad feelings toward his former boss.
- Despite the public apology, many citizens continued to harbor deep suspicions regarding the government's true motivations for the policy change.

### 4. to hide or protect someone

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Formal

to give a home or a secret place to stay to someone, especially someone the police are looking for.

For teachers: to provide shelter or concealment to someone, frequently in a legal context involving a fugitive or criminal.

- It is a crime to harbor a criminal who is running from the law.
- The defendant was charged with harboring a fugitive after the police discovered the suspect hiding in his basement for three weeks.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually a person.

## Examples

- The fishing boats returned to the harbor before the storm started.
- The city built a new harbor to encourage more international trade and tourism in the region.
- As the sun set over the horizon, the harbor lights flickered on, guiding the massive container ships safely into their designated berths.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.