Vocabulary in context
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Harbor
To shelter or provide refuge for someone; to conceal or protect; to hold in the mind (as in harboring a thought, feeling, or grievance).
verb💡
Imagine This
When the storm strikes the coast, the coast guard advises all the boats to stay docked inside the harbor.
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Sounds Like
HAR-bor
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Looks Like
Harbour (British spelling) or visually resembles the noun 'harbor' (port)
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Remember This
Harboring a fugitive is illegal.
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Other Forms
harboragenoun
harboringverb
harborsverb
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Note
Harbor as a verb means sheltering or protecting; as a noun it refers to a port or sheltered body of water. Be mindful of the noun vs. verb meanings and the British spelling harbour.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The charity tried to harbor homeless families until they found stable housing.
- The detective warned that harboring a suspect could lead to charges.
Synonyms
shelterrefugeconcealprotecttake in
Antonyms
exposeevictreject
Etymology
From Old French herberge 'shelter', via Middle English harbor; related to a Germanic root meaning shelter or protection. The sense 'a place for ships to anchor' developed from the general idea of shelter.
Mnemonic
HARBOR = Haven And Refuge; Harbor a grudge — remember that harboring means to hold onto something (a thought, feeling, or grievance).
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Lumbering
verbTo move slowly and heavily in a clumsy, awkward, and often noisy manner.
Acknowledge
verbTo admit that something is true or real; to recognize the existence, validity, or status of something or someone; and to confirm receipt or awareness of something.
Asperity
nounThe roughness or unevenness of a surface; harshness or sharpness of temper or manner.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Refuge
nounA shelter or protection from danger or hardship; a place offering safety or security.
Conceal
verbTo hide from view or keep secret; to prevent others from discovering or noticing something.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
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