Meaning of the word haven

Last Updated:
8 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences

What does the word haven mean?

According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word haven is a noun that refers to a safe station or shelter. This place of safety can be an official place of refuge, a place of safety for wildlife, or a place where one can harbor a sanctuary. Haven can also be used figuratively. One might find a safe haven of peace in a book or movie. A haven might be a sheltered port where someone can discharge cargo by the mouth of a river or creek, a small port in New York, or a more traditional safe haven. This word can also be used with reference to the stock market, where people might pull out stocks and seek a safe haven in cash from the accommodative monetary policy. Haven is also on the list of popular baby names for both baby boy and baby girl names.

Many different languages also contain words that mean have. You may notice that some of these translations of haven from Word Sense look and sound similar to one another. These are called cognates, which are often formed when two words have the same language of origin or root. 

•  Finnish: turvapaikka‎
•  Dutch: vrijhaven‎ (fem.), toevluchtsoord‎ (masc.)
•  French: asile‎ (masc.), refuge‎ (masc.), abri‎ (masc.), havre‎ (masc.)
•  Swedish: fristad‎, tillflyktsort‎ (common)
•  Danish: tilflugtssted‎ (neut.), refugium‎ (neut.), fristed‎ (neut.)
•  Russian: убе́жище‎ (neut.), укры́тие‎ (neut.), прибе́жище‎ (neut.), приста́нище‎ (neut.), прию́т‎ (masc.)
•  Greek: καταφύγιο‎ (neut.)
•  Maori: piringa‎, punanga‎, tuohunga‎, whakamaurutanga‎, āhuru mōwai‎
•  Japanese: 避難所‎ (ひなんじょ, hinanjo)
•  Hungarian: rév‎, menedék‎
•  Spanish: asilo‎ (masc.), refugio‎ (masc.)
•  Mandarin: 避難所‎, 避难所‎ (bìnànsuǒ)
•  German: Zufluchtsort‎ (masc.)
•  Serbo-Croatian: sklonište‎, pribježište‎, luka spasa‎, refugij‎
•  Korean: 피난처‎ (避難所‎)
•  Portuguese: refúgio‎ (masc.)

What are synonyms and antonyms of the word haven?

There are many different words that one can use in place of the word haven. These words are called synonyms. Synonyms are words that mean the same thing as a given word or phrase, and that can be used interchangeably. One might choose to use a synonym to expand their own vocabulary, to avoid repeating themselves, or to choose a word that makes the most sense for the context. The below list of synonyms for the word haven is provided by Power Thesaurus.

•  oasis
•  roof over head
•  ports
•  hiding place
•  refuge
•  dockyard
•  oases
•  seaport
•  resting-place
•  landing place
•  shelters
•  ark
•  retreats
•  adyta
•  safe haven
•  landing-place
•  seaports
•  retreat
•  quayside
•  port in a storm
•  guard
•  stronghold
•  home port
•  shipyard
•  wharf
•  have privacy
•  landing
•  roof
•  boatyard
•  harbor
•  coastal town
•  escape
•  lair
•  harborage
•  harbors
•  place of refuge
•  holt
•  safe house
•  resort
•  covert
•  be safe
•  sanctuaries
•  hideaway
•  stopping place
•  sanctuary
•  safety
•  safe harbor
•  shelter
•  homestead
•  place of safety
•  mooring
•  fireside
•  anchorage
•  bolthole
•  dockage
•  pier
•  roads
•  bolt hole
•  hide-out
•  bolt-hole
•  tent city
•  waterfront
•  man cave
•  lodge
•  harbour
•  protection
•  cove
•  asylums
•  embankment
•  landing stage
•  roadstead
•  protect
•  breakwater
•  harbor of refuge
•  dugout
•  sanctum
•  safe place
•  home
•  island
•  refuges
•  marina
•  den
•  safeguard
•  habitat
•  quarterage
•  dock
•  hermitage
•  port
•  moorage
•  harbourage
•  hideout
•  asylum
•  berth
•  resting place
•  quay
•  destination
•  docks
•  bulwark
•  shield
•  cover

There are also many different words that mean the opposite of the word haven – these opposite words are called antonyms, which are another quick and easy way to improve and expand your English vocabulary. This list of antonyms of haven is also provided by Power Thesaurus.

•  get tense
•  death trap
•  crapshoot
•  dare
•  at hazard
•  from the risk
•  deep blue sea
•  cannot risk
•  any chances
•  against the risks
•  chancing
•  at the risk
•  face of danger
•  chopping block
•  gathering clouds
•  being jeopardised
•  death threat
•  dangerous nature
•  eradication
•  firetrap
•  against the dangers
•  distant-water
•  face danger
•  deep-sea
•  been at risk
•  from the risks
•  impendence
•  cardhouse
•  chase
•  hazardousness
•  avoid the danger
•  against risks
•  danger of dying
•  degree of risk
•  against hazards
•  chance taken
•  could be in danger
•  dangerous ground
•  imperilling
•  exposedness
•  gaping chasm
•  in danger here
•  distant water
•  cause for alarm
•  high-seas
•  extreme seriousness
•  breakers ahead
•  hazards
•  dangerousness
•  high-sea

What is the origin of the word haven?

According to Etymonline, the word haven has been used since the Middle English and Old English hæfen/Old English hæf. This word is from Proto-Germanic roots that also formed the German hafen, Dutch haven, Danish havn, Danish hav, Old Norse höfn, Old Irish cuan, Middle Dutch havene, Norwegian havn, and more. This word is of Proto-Indo-European roots.

How can the word haven be used in a sentence?

The word haven can be used in many different sentences in the English language. Using words in a sentence is a great way to incorporate them into your vocabulary. You can also try making flashcards or a quiz to test your knowledge of the definitions of different English language words. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today to help incorporate it into your vocabulary. Below are several examples of haven. 

The beautiful park serves as a safe haven for visitors and the homeless amidst the economic chaos. 

The recent surge in tumultuous times in the stock market has led people to take their money and assets out in a familiar position in cash – the magnitude of which is plummeting stocks. This new haven of cash was terrible for financial institutions.

Lake Baringo Bay, an inlet of the sea, was protected and a freshwater haven for native plants and a mixed variety of birds. 

Overall, the word haven means a safe space or sanctuary. This word is a noun.

Sources:

1. Haven definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary 
2. haven: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
3. haven | Origin and meaning of haven | Online Etymology Dictionary 
4. Haven synonyms – 452 Words and Phrases for Haven | Power Thesaurus 
5. Haven antonyms – 151 Opposites of Haven | Power Thesaurus 

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English haven, havene, from Old English hæfen (“haven; harbour; port”), from Proto-West Germanic *habanu, from Proto-Germanic *habnō, *habanō (compare Dutch haven, German Hafen, Norwegian/Danish havn, Swedish hamn), from Proto-Germanic *habą (“sea”) (compare Old English hæf, Middle Low German haf, Old Norse haf (“sea”), German Haff (“bay or lagoon behind a spit”), perhaps, in the sense of «heaving sea», etymologically identical with Old Norse haf (“heaving, lifting, uplift, elevation”), derived from Proto-Germanic *habjaną (“to lift, heave”)), or from Proto-Indo-European *kh₂pnós (compare Old Irish cúan (“harbor, recess, haven”)). Doublet of abra.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˈheɪvən/
• Rhymes: -eɪvən

Noun[edit]

haven (plural havens)

1. A harbour or anchorage protected from the sea.

   • c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: Imprinted at London for Henry Goſſon,  […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act 13, scene what ſhipping, and what ladings in our hauen,]:

   • 1842, Alfred Tennyson, “»Break, break, break,»”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 229:

     And the stately ships go on / To their haven under the hill;

2. (by extension) A place of safety.

   Synonyms: refuge, sanctuary, zoar

   • 2011 December 21, Helen Pidd, “Europeans migrate south as continent drifts deeper into crisis”, in the Guardian‎^[1]:

     Since its conception, the European Union has been a haven for those seeking refuge from war, persecution and poverty in other parts of the world.

3. (by extension) A peaceful place.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

haven (third-person singular simple present havens, present participle havening, simple past and past participle havened)

1. To put into, or provide with a haven.

Translations[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

• heav’n, nevah

Danish[edit]

Noun[edit]

haven c

1. definite singular of have

Dutch[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˈɦaːvə(n)/
• Hyphenation: ha‧ven
• Rhymes: -aːvən

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle Dutch havene, from Old Dutch *havana, from Proto-West Germanic *habanu, from Proto-Germanic *habnō, *habanō.

Noun[edit]

haven f (plural havens, diminutive haventje n)

1. harbour
2. port

Derived terms[edit]

— port types

— toponyms

Descendants[edit]

• Afrikaans: hawe
• → Papiamentu: haf, haaf

Etymology 2[edit]

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Noun[edit]

haven

1. Plural form of have.

Finnish[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• hapene (dialectal)

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Finnic *haben, possibly a Baltic loan.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɑʋen/, [ˈhɑʋe̞n]
• Rhymes: -ɑʋen
• Syllabification^(key): ha‧ven

Noun[edit]

haven

1. (dialectal) (single) hair

   Synonyms: hapsi, hius

Declension[edit]

Inflection of haven (Kotus type 49*E/askel, p—v gradation)
nominative	haven hapene	hapenet hapeneet
genitive	hapenen hapeneen	hapenien haventen hapeneiden hapeneitten
partitive	haventa hapenetta	hapenia hapeneita
illative	hapeneen hapeneeseen	hapeniin hapeneisiin hapeneihin
	singular	plural
nominative	haven hapene	hapenet hapeneet
accusative	nom.	haven hapene	hapenet hapeneet
gen.	hapenen hapeneen
genitive	hapenen hapeneen	hapenien haventen hapeneiden hapeneitten
partitive	haventa hapenetta	hapenia hapeneita
inessive	hapenessa hapeneessa	hapenissa hapeneissa
elative	hapenesta hapeneesta	hapenista hapeneista
illative	hapeneen hapeneeseen	hapeniin hapeneisiin hapeneihin
adessive	hapenella hapeneella	hapenilla hapeneilla
ablative	hapenelta hapeneelta	hapenilta hapeneilta
allative	hapenelle hapeneelle	hapenille hapeneille
essive	hapenena hapeneena	hapenina hapeneina
translative	hapeneksi hapeneeksi	hapeniksi hapeneiksi
instructive	—	hapenin hapenein
abessive	hapenetta hapeneetta	hapenitta hapeneitta
comitative	See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of haven (type askel)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative hapeneni hapeneeni hapeneni hapeneeni accusative nom. hapeneni hapeneeni hapeneni hapeneeni gen. hapeneni hapeneeni genitive hapeneni hapeneeni hapenieni haventeni hapeneideni hapeneitteni partitive haventani hapenettani hapeniani hapeneitani inessive hapenessani hapeneessani hapenissani hapeneissani elative hapenestani hapeneestani hapenistani hapeneistani illative hapeneeni hapeneeseeni hapeniini hapeneisiini hapeneihini adessive hapenellani hapeneellani hapenillani hapeneillani ablative hapeneltani hapeneeltani hapeniltani hapeneiltani allative hapenelleni hapeneelleni hapenilleni hapeneilleni essive hapenenani hapeneenani hapeninani hapeneinani translative hapenekseni hapeneekseni hapenikseni hapeneikseni instructive — — abessive hapenettani hapeneettani hapenittani hapeneittani comitative — hapenineni hapeneineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative hapenesi hapeneesi hapenesi hapeneesi accusative nom. hapenesi hapeneesi hapenesi hapeneesi gen. hapenesi hapeneesi genitive hapenesi hapeneesi hapeniesi haventesi hapeneidesi hapeneittesi partitive haventasi hapenettasi hapeniasi hapeneitasi inessive hapenessasi hapeneessasi hapenissasi hapeneissasi elative hapenestasi hapeneestasi hapenistasi hapeneistasi illative hapeneesi hapeneeseesi hapeniisi hapeneisiisi hapeneihisi adessive hapenellasi hapeneellasi hapenillasi hapeneillasi ablative hapeneltasi hapeneeltasi hapeniltasi hapeneiltasi allative hapenellesi hapeneellesi hapenillesi hapeneillesi essive hapenenasi hapeneenasi hapeninasi hapeneinasi translative hapeneksesi hapeneeksesi hapeniksesi hapeneiksesi instructive — — abessive hapenettasi hapeneettasi hapenittasi hapeneittasi comitative — hapeninesi hapeneinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative hapenemme hapeneemme hapenemme hapeneemme accusative nom. hapenemme hapeneemme hapenemme hapeneemme gen. hapenemme hapeneemme genitive hapenemme hapeneemme hapeniemme haventemme hapeneidemme hapeneittemme partitive haventamme hapenettamme hapeniamme hapeneitamme inessive hapenessamme hapeneessamme hapenissamme hapeneissamme elative hapenestamme hapeneestamme hapenistamme hapeneistamme illative hapeneemme hapeneeseemme hapeniimme hapeneisiimme hapeneihimme adessive hapenellamme hapeneellamme hapenillamme hapeneillamme ablative hapeneltamme hapeneeltamme hapeniltamme hapeneiltamme allative hapenellemme hapeneellemme hapenillemme hapeneillemme essive hapenenamme hapeneenamme hapeninamme hapeneinamme translative hapeneksemme hapeneeksemme hapeniksemme hapeneiksemme instructive — — abessive hapenettamme hapeneettamme hapenittamme hapeneittamme comitative — hapeninemme hapeneinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative hapenenne hapeneenne hapenenne hapeneenne accusative nom. hapenenne hapeneenne hapenenne hapeneenne gen. hapenenne hapeneenne genitive hapenenne hapeneenne hapenienne haventenne hapeneidenne hapeneittenne partitive haventanne hapenettanne hapenianne hapeneitanne inessive hapenessanne hapeneessanne hapenissanne hapeneissanne elative hapenestanne hapeneestanne hapenistanne hapeneistanne illative hapeneenne hapeneeseenne hapeniinne hapeneisiinne hapeneihinne adessive hapenellanne hapeneellanne hapenillanne hapeneillanne ablative hapeneltanne hapeneeltanne hapeniltanne hapeneiltanne allative hapenellenne hapeneellenne hapenillenne hapeneillenne essive hapenenanne hapeneenanne hapeninanne hapeneinanne translative hapeneksenne hapeneeksenne hapeniksenne hapeneiksenne instructive — — abessive hapenettanne hapeneettanne hapenittanne hapeneittanne comitative — hapeninenne hapeneinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative hapenensa hapeneensa hapenensa hapeneensa accusative nom. hapenensa hapeneensa hapenensa hapeneensa gen. hapenensa hapeneensa genitive hapenensa hapeneensa hapeniensa haventensa hapeneidensa hapeneittensa partitive haventaan hapenettaan haventansa hapenettansa hapeniaan hapeneitaan hapeniansa hapeneitansa inessive hapenessaan hapeneessaan hapenessansa hapeneessansa hapenissaan hapeneissaan hapenissansa hapeneissansa elative hapenestaan hapeneestaan hapenestansa hapeneestansa hapenistaan hapeneistaan hapenistansa hapeneistansa illative hapeneensa hapeneeseensa hapeniinsa hapeneisiinsa hapeneihinsa adessive hapenellaan hapeneellaan hapenellansa hapeneellansa hapenillaan hapeneillaan hapenillansa hapeneillansa ablative hapeneltaan hapeneeltaan hapeneltansa hapeneeltansa hapeniltaan hapeneiltaan hapeniltansa hapeneiltansa allative hapenelleen hapeneelleen hapenellensa hapeneellensa hapenilleen hapeneilleen hapenillensa hapeneillensa essive hapenenaan hapeneenaan hapenenansa hapeneenansa hapeninaan hapeneinaan hapeninansa hapeneinansa translative hapenekseen hapeneekseen hapeneksensa hapeneeksensa hapenikseen hapeneikseen hapeniksensa hapeneiksensa instructive — — abessive hapenettaan hapeneettaan hapenettansa hapeneettansa hapenittaan hapeneittaan hapenittansa hapeneittansa comitative — hapenineen hapeneineen hapeninensa hapeneinensa

Anagrams[edit]

• ahven

Middle English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• have, haav, haf, hafe, haben, habben, heven, hawe
• (contracted) han, haan, ha

Etymology[edit]

From Old English habban, hafian, from Proto-West Germanic *habbjan, from Proto-Germanic *habjaną.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˈhaːvən/, /ˈhavən/, /ˈhabən/
• (contracted) IPA^(key): /haːn/

Verb[edit]

haven

2. to own (to have ownership of):
   1. to possess (an abstraction; a quality)
   2. to include (as a part, ingredient, or feature).

      • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎^[2], published c. 1410, James 2:17, page 110r, column 2; republished as Wycliffe’s translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:

        ſo alſo feiþ if it haþ not werkis .· is deed in it ſelf

        So faith, if it doesn’t incorporate works as well, is dead on its own.

   3. to hold; to have at disposal
3. to get, acquire, or obtain:

   • c. 1375, “Book I”, in Iohne Barbour, De geſtis bellis et uirtutibus domini Roberti de Brwyß […] (The Brus, Advocates MS. 19.2.2)‎^[3], Ouchtirmunſye: Iohannes Ramſay, published 1489, folio 2, recto, lines 225-228; republished at Edinburgh: National Library of Scotland, c. 2010:

     A fredome is a noble thing / fredome mayß man to haiff liking / fredome all ſolace to ma[n] giffis / He levys at eß [that] frely levys

     Oh, freedom is a noble thing: / it allows people to get enjoyment / and provides all of humanity’s peace. / If you live free, you live at ease!

   • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎^[4], published c. 1410, Joon 10:10, page 49v, column 1; republished as Wycliffe’s translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:

     a nyȝt þeef comeþ not .· but þat he ſteele ſle ⁊ leeſe / and I cam þat þey haue lijf .· ⁊ haue more plenteuouſli.

     A stealthy thief doesn’t come unless he can steal, kill, and ruin. But I came so they could have life, and have it more abundantly.

   1. to take (in); to be given
   2. to have (a child); to give birth
4. to do; to perform (an action):
   1. (with preposition) to take (away)
   2. to have (done); to cause to (do, be)
   3. to be obliged to do; to be scheduled to do.
5. (auxillary) Denotes completion; forms the perfect tense.
6. to keep; to maintain (in a condition)
7. to have (in a certain relationship)
8. to consider; to look upon
9. to experience; to undergo

Usage notes[edit]

• As in Modern English, haven may be used elliptically in auxiliary constructions if the main verb is implicit.
• The perfect progressive construction (modern have been + present) is known in Middle English, though rare and late.
• Some intransitive verbs may form the perfect with ben rather than haven.

Conjugation[edit]

Descendants[edit]

• English: have (-‘ve, -a)
• Scots: hae, ha, hiv, have, hawe (-a)
• Yola: ha, have

References[edit]

• “hā̆ven, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Middle High German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old High German hafan m (“pot”).

Noun[edit]

haven

1. pot

Swedish[edit]

Noun[edit]

haven

1. definite plural of hav

West Frisian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old Frisian *hafen, *haven, from Proto-West Germanic *habanu, from Proto-Germanic *habnō.

Noun[edit]

haven c (plural havens, diminutive haventsje)

1. harbour
2. haven, refuge

Derived terms[edit]

• havenhaad

Further reading[edit]

• “haven (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011