# Harry

/ˈhɛɹi/ (US) · /hˈæɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/harry
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to harass or bother

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to keep bothering or worrying someone by making constant demands or criticisms.

For teachers: to persistently harass, bother, or distress someone with repeated demands or criticism.

- The press continued to harry the politician with questions about the scandal.
- Throughout the press conference, reporters continued to harry the spokesperson, refusing to let the matter drop until a definitive statement was issued.

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

### 2. to attack repeatedly

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

to attack an enemy many times in a way that makes them tired or weak.

For teachers: to make repeated small-scale attacks on an enemy in order to deplete their resources or morale.

- Small groups of soldiers were sent to harry the retreating army.
- The light cavalry was deployed to harry the enemy's flanks, preventing them from reforming their lines during the retreat.

Teaching tip: This sense is primarily found in historical fiction or academic history texts describing warfare.

### 3. a name

noun · CEFR A1

a common male name, often used as a short form of Henry.

For teachers: A male given name, historically serving as a diminutive or spoken form of Henry.

- Harry is going to the park with his friends this afternoon.
- Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has been a prominent figure in global media for several decades.

Usage: Always capitalized as it is a proper noun.

### 4. heroin

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a slang word for the illegal drug heroin.

For teachers: A slang term for heroin, likely derived from the phonetic similarity of the first syllable.

- The documentary explored the devastating effects of harry on the local community.
- Undercover officers were monitoring the area for the distribution of harry and other controlled substances.

Teaching tip: This is highly informal and specific to certain drug cultures; learners should recognize it but avoid using it.

## Examples

- The reporters continue to harry the actress as she leaves her home.
- The small group of rebels began to harry the retreating army with quick, unexpected night raids.
- Throughout the press conference, the minister was harried by a barrage of questions regarding the recent budget cuts and the subsequent public outcry.

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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.