DictionaryAI

haven

HAY-vuhn/ˈheɪvən/

Pluralhavens

Verbhavens, havening, havened

4 meanings of haven

Practice

  1. 1
    safe placenouncountable
    A safe, calm place where people or animals are protected from danger or noise.

    The old barn was a haven for the farm cats in winter.

    The shelter is a haven for families with nowhere else to go.

    UsageSay a haven for birds, or a safe haven.

    Similarrefuge, sanctuary, shelter, retreat

  2. 2
    portnoundatedcountable
    A sheltered place on the coast where ships can stay safe from the sea.

    The boats stayed in the haven until the storm was over.

    And the stately ships go on / To their haven under the hill;
    1842, Alfred Tennyson, “"Break, break, break,"”Here, haven means a sheltered harbor where ships stay safe from the sea.

    Similarharbor, anchorage, port

    Note
  3. 3
    bring to safetyverbraretransitive
    To bring into a safe place, or to give a safe place to.

    Similarshelter, harbor

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    nouncountable
    A place that is great for a certain kind of person or activity, with lots of what they want.

    This little town is a haven for people who love old books.

    This beach is a haven for surfers, with big waves almost every day.

    UsageSay a haven for a group: a haven for snorkelers.

    Similarparadise, mecca, magnet

    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Old English hæfen, meaning "harbour" or "port". It may come from an old Germanic word for "sea".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts