harp

1 of 2

noun

ˈhärp 

plural harps

1

: a plucked stringed instrument consisting of a resonator, an arched or angled neck that may be supported by a post, and strings of graded length that are strung between the soundboard and the neck

2

: something resembling a harp

3

: harmonica sense 1

harpist

ˈhär-pist 

noun

Illustration of harp

• harp 1

harp

2 of 2

verb

harped; harping; harps

intransitive verb

1

: to play on a harp

2

: to dwell on or recur to a subject tiresomely or monotonously

—usually used with on

always harping on my study habits

3

US, informal : nag entry 1 sense 1

—usually used with at

harps at me to clean my room

Synonyms of harp

Verb

• dwell (on or upon)
• emphasize
• pay (up)
• point (up)

Examples of harp in a Sentence

Verb

there were so many good things about the stage production that it seems churlish to harp on a couple of minor missteps

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Skimpy dresses do not play well with harps, cellos and basses. —Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026

According to a spokesperson for Pittsburgh Public Safety, police contacted the harp's manufacturer using a serial number. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

Verb

Staios harped numerous times about building toward being a contender. —Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026

The committee’s main concern is that 98 percent of Israel’s trade goes by sea, with the workers harping that ZIM was the only ocean carrier that stopped at the country’s ports regularly throughout its war with Hamas. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English harpe, going back to Old English hearpe (feminine weak noun), going back to Germanic *harpōn- (whence also Old Saxon harpa "harp, rack, gridiron for torture" Old High German harpha, harfa "harp, gridiron for torture," Old Norse harpa "harp"), of uncertain origin

Note: As a source for Middle English harpe compare also Anglo-French and continental Old French harpe, borrowed from Germanic. The sixth-century poet and hymnodist Venantius Fortunatus, resident at the Merovingian court, attests the word in Latin: "Romanusque lyra plaudat tibi, barbarus harpa …" ("Let the Roman applaud you with the lyre, the barbarian with the harp …").

Verb

Middle English harpen "to play a harp, pluck" (also harpen on "repeat [something] constantly"), going back to Old English hearpian "to play the harp," derivative of hearpe harp entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

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

Phrases Containing harp

• aeolian harp
• harp at
• harp on
• harp seal
• Jew's harp
• mouth harp
• wind harp

Rhymes for harp

• carp
• scarp
• tarp
• endocarp
• pericarp

Kids Definition

harp

1 of 2 noun

ˈhärp 

: a musical instrument that has strings stretched across a large open triangular frame and that is plucked with the fingers

harpist

ˈhär-pəst 

noun

harp

2 of 2 verb

1

: to play on a harp

2

: to dwell on a subject tiresomely

always harping on his shortcomings

harper noun