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

Washington’s Gulf allies — including several of Iran’s own rivals — have also pushed against a US military intervention, warning that the ripple effects would undermine regional security and damage their reputations as havens for foreign capital, The New York Times reported. —Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 15 Jan. 2026

The garden, says Joffe, is a haven for biodiversity, filled with plants that support the full life cycles of butterflies and bees. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026

Gold is a traditional safe haven against inflation, mounting deficits, geopolitical tensions and general economic concerns. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 Jan. 2026

Meanwhile, the price of gold and other precious metals shot up as investors fled towards safe haven assets. —Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 14 Jan. 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

• 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