wharf

noun

ˈ(h)wȯrf 

plural wharves ˈ(h)wȯrvz  also wharfs

1

: a structure built along or at an angle from the shore of navigable waters so that ships may lie alongside to receive and discharge cargo and passengers

2

obsolete : the bank of a river or the shore of the sea

Synonyms of wharf

• dock
• pier
• quay

Examples of wharf in a Sentence

tied the rowboat up at the wharf

Recent Examples on the Web

The waterfront is especially striking, with its historic red wharf and peaceful view of Penn Cove. —Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026

The 200-acre terminal will feature two new berths and 3,000 linear feet of new wharf designed for larger next-generation container ships in natural deep water. —Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 16 June 2026

Staff picks up guests from the nearby ferry wharf in sporty Jeeps for ease of arrival—a nice homey touch (one of many here) that segues perfectly into a welcome drink in the sun that will remind you to slow down into island time. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

The concerned wharf staff forwarded the package to the office of the carrier of record, Wells Fargo and Co. —Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hwearf embankment, wharf; akin to Old English hweorfan to turn, Old High German hwerban, Greek karpos wrist

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for wharf

• dwarf
• morph
• orf
• polymorph

Kids Definition

wharf

noun

ˈhwȯrf 

ˈwȯrf

plural wharves ˈhwȯrvz 

ˈwȯrvz

also wharfs

: a structure built on the shore at which ships can load and unload