harness

noun

har·ness | \ ˈhär-nəs

Definition of harness

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the equipment other than a yoke of a draft animal

b : gear, equipment especially : military equipment for a horse or man

2a : occupational surroundings or routine get back into harness after a vacation

b : close association ability to work in harness with others— R. P. Brooks

3a : something that resembles a harness (as in holding or fastening something) a parachute harness

b : prefabricated wiring with insulation and terminals (see terminal entry 2 sense 3) ready to be attached (as in an ignition or lighting system) a wiring harness

4 : a part of a loom which holds and controls the heddles

harness

verb

harnessed; harnessing; harnesses

Definition of harness (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to put a harness on harnessed the ox

b : to attach by means of a harness harness the horses to the wagon

2 : to tie together : yoke must harness his mechanical apparatus to his creative mind— Andrew Buchanan

3 : utilize harness the computer's potential

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about harness

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Examples of harness in a Sentence

Noun

The pilot strapped himself into his harness before takeoff.

Verb

The horses were harnessed to the wagon. Engineers are finding new ways to harness the sun's energy to heat homes. The company is harnessing technology to provide better service to its customers. They harnessed the power of the waterfall to create electricity. harness anger to fight injustice

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Officers located the vehicle in the area and found that the vehicle had rear-facing car seats and a harness in the trunk. — cleveland.com, "Man puts child in car trunk, caller reports: Highland Heights Police Blotter," 28 June 2019 In a museum known for displaying the demure dresses of first ladies, there’s a provocative new outfit on view: a skimpy chrome and rubber S&M harness that was worn by a gay activist at several recent San Francisco Pride marches. — Washington Post, "14 things to do in the D.C. area this week," 24 June 2019 The storm stopped nothing on the field, requiring Valdez harness some sort of composure to combat deteriorating conditions. — Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, "Yankees inundate Astros with 6-run inning," 21 June 2019 According to the press release, University of Pennsylvania graduate student and study co-first author Jason Christopher Jolly volunteered to demonstrate PHEMA’s strength by suspending himself from a harness held up by two tiny adhesive patches. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "Snail-Inspired Super Glue Can Support the Weight of a 200-Pound Human," 20 June 2019 Folk, named the #4 Best New Restaurant, serves everyday breakfast and lunch fare that harnesses the bounty of local produce in a breezy, made-for-Instagram space. — Detroit Free Press, "Folk Top 10 Takeover Presale," 12 June 2019 According to Audi, the problem stems from a faulty grommet seal, which sits in the vehicle’s wiring harness between the charge port and the battery. — Aarian Marshall, WIRED, "Audi Recalls Some E-Tron SUVs Over a Battery Issue," 10 June 2019 And if things really go awry, the car is fitted with a titanium roll cage, carbon sports seats, and a four-point harness to protect the driver. — Dalvin Brown, USA TODAY, "The Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato might be the rugged supercar of your dreams," 7 June 2019 This thing is basically a ring and a bracelet and a harness for your hand all in one. — Glamour, "Hand Chains Never Fail to Get Me Compliments," 15 May 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The volcanic activity produces naturally heated water, which Icelanders have cleverly harnessed not just as an energy source, but for thermal baths and pools. — Rick Steves, USA TODAY, "Geothermal baths and beyond: Rick Steves' guide to Iceland's steamiest sites," 25 June 2019 But even as officials across the country have harnessed their new monopolies to take their states further right or left, the speed and breadth of change in Albany stood out. — New York Times, "A Profound Democratic Shift in New York: ‘We Seized the Moment’," 22 June 2019 There is a clear opportunity to leverage millennials and those in Gen Z, and harness their openness to be true co-parents to break down the barriers that are holding back women in the workplace. — NBC News, "Working Mother's Subha Barry: 6 ways men can help women advance in the workplace," 14 June 2019 TreeRunner Adventure Park, set to open June 21 at 7553 Meadow Brook Road, will allow visitors to climb and swing harnessed through the treetops on more than 60 trails with obstacles of varying levels of difficulty. — Anna Bauman, Detroit Free Press, "TreeRunner Adventure Park to open at Oakland University in June," 9 June 2019 There is even growing evidence the same cellular electric mechanisms could be harnessed to fix spinal injuries. — Sally Adee, Quartz, "Our bodies are full of electricity that could help us fight cancer," 30 May 2019 Winning the support of this emerging social class and harnessing its political energies will be crucial to the survival—and revival—of social-democratic parties across Europe. — Omar G. Encarnación, The New York Review of Books, "Will Spain Be the Savior of Social Democracy in Europe?," 28 May 2019 With the launch of his annual print publication, Faculty Press, Magugu is harnessing this newfound access to industry shapers and gatekeepers for his community as much as for himself. — Cassidy George, Vogue, "Meet Thebe Magugu, the Designer at the Heart of South Africa’s Cultural Renaissance," 20 May 2019 The Drop is also a clever way to harness some of the ecommerce activity happening on influencers’ platforms of choice, YouTube and Instagram, the latter of which recently began allowing users to buy products without even leaving its app. — Louise Matsakis, WIRED, "Amazon's Quest to Be Fashionable Continues," 8 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'harness.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.