haven

noun

ha·​ven ˈhā-vən 

1

: harbor, port

2

: a place of safety : refuge

3

: a place offering favorable opportunities or conditions

a haven for artists

haven transitive verb

Synonyms of haven

• harbor
• port
• anchorage

Examples of haven in a Sentence

The shelter offers a haven from abusive spouses.

The inn is a haven for weary travelers.

This national park provides a safe haven for wildlife.

Recent Examples on the Web

What to do nearby This part of Bangkok is a shoppers' haven, surrounded by EM District’s trio of malls—EmQuartier, Emporium, and Emsphere—each offering a unique selection, from high-end boutiques to entire floors dedicated to street food. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026

Before dinner is served, a masked man approaches people in the crowd — half in costumes, half in formalwear — in Clifton’s second-story ballroom, once a swing dancing haven. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

It's typically seen as a safe-haven asset, which is why investors were shoveling money into it earlier this year. — Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026

Just prior to the pandemic, the 2019 festival set records showcasing 242 projects to 122,313 attendees in Park City, Salt Lake City, and at Sundance Mountain Resort, Redford’s protected 5,000-acre haven in Provo Canyon. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hæfen; akin to Middle High German habene harbor

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing haven

• safe haven
• tax haven

Rhymes for haven

• craven
• flavin
• graven
• maven
• pavan
• raven
• shaven
• engraven
• unshaven
• riboflavin

Kids Definition

haven

noun

ha·​ven ˈhā-vən 

1

: harbor entry 1 sense 2, port

2

: a place of safety : shelter