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

• 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

The 11th Street Kids of Harcourt, John Economos (Steve Agee), Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) and Adebayo had already set out to rescue Chris from Earth-2, and Harcourt’s instincts as an agent who minds her surroundings picked up on the white supremacist haven almost immediately. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025

Sandals Resorts has invested heavily in turning the Caribbean into a pickleball haven, with high-quality courts, pro-grade gear, and on-site instructors ready to guide first-timers. —AFAR Media, 27 Sep. 2025

Any sense of safety that once existed in the Qatari capital – a longtime haven for Hamas officials, with the tacit agreement of the US and Israel – has now been shattered. —Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025

Once a mining town, Jim Thorpe is now a haven for outdoor enthusiasts—especially in the fall, when the Pocono Mountains show off their best colors. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025

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

• 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