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

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of providing a safe haven for militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan, especially for the Pakistani Taliban. —Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026

Islamabad accuses the Taliban regime of giving safe haven to Islamist groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) that carry out armed attacks in Pakistan. —Fazelminallah Qazizai, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026

Gold is typically seen as a safe-haven asset, but surging oil prices have spurred concerns that rising inflation will keep interest rates up, weakening gold’s appeal. —J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026

Britain has long been a haven for hikers, amblers, and fans of a brisk stroll in the open air. —Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 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