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

The Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth has for decades been a haven for the blind and visually impaired, serving upwards of 3,000 clients annually in recent years. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

Drawn to a lakeside haven by a mysterious pregnant woman, a heartbroken drifter finds refuge with a group of eccentric misfits. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026

The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s main wine region, is a haven for oenophiles. — Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026

The story tracks a Chinese chef who travels to the Middle East to run an eatery to clear family debts, only for his establishment to turn into a vital haven for civilians and orphans after regional armed conflict erupts. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Sep. 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