: a device usually of metal attached to a ship or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place by means of a fluke that digs into the bottom
Noun
The ship dropped anchor in a secluded harbor.
He described his wife as the emotional anchor of his life.
a local bank that has been the financial anchor of the community Verb
They anchored the ship in the bay.
The ship anchored in the bay.
a star quarterback who has anchored the team's offense for many years
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Noun
One of the most striking parts of the show is the Kells' home, the Cliff House, a sprawling mansion with a massive anchor sunken into the front of the house.—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 24 May 2025 On Wednesday, May 21, morning news anchor Olivia Jaquith opened her live, three-hour telecast with some exciting news about her incoming baby, who was already two days past his due date.—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
Verb
Hyman himself scored 54 times last season and another 16 in the playoffs, the latter of which led the NHL, while mostly anchored to McDavid’s wing.—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 26 May 2025 Their portfolios may look different across geographies, sectors, and holdings, but they’re all anchored by the same foundation: clarity of thought, conviction in process, and discipline under pressure.—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for anchor
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English ancre, from Old English ancor, from Latin anchora, from Greek ankyra; akin to Old English anga hook — more at angle
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
: a device usually of metal that is attached to a boat or ship by a cable and that when thrown overboard digs into the earth and holds the boat or ship in place
2
: something that serves to hold an object firmly or that gives a feeling of stability
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