plural anchors
1
: a heavy device that is attached to a boat or ship by a rope or chain and that is thrown into the water to hold the boat or ship in place
The ship dropped anchor in a secluded harbor.
Several yachts stood/sat/rode at anchor [=were held in place by an anchor] in the harbor.
The crew weighed anchor [=lifted the anchor] and prepared to sail.
2
a
: a person or thing that provides strength and support
a star quarterback who has been the anchor [=the most important part] of a football team's offense for many years
He described his wife as the emotional anchor of his life.
a local bank that has been the financial anchor of the community
b
: a large store that attracts customers and other businesses to an area (such as a shopping mall)
an anchor store
3
chiefly US
: someone who reads the news on a television broadcast : an anchorman or anchorwoman
a television news anchor
anchors; anchored; anchoring
1
: to keep a ship or boat from moving by using an anchor
They anchored the ship in the bay.
The ship anchored in the bay.
2
: to connect (something) to a solid base : to hold (something) firmly in place
—usually used as (be) anchored
The cables of the bridge are anchored to the hillside.
—often used figuratively with inHer authority is anchored in more than 20 years of experience.
3
: to be the strongest and most important part of (something)
a star quarterback who has anchored the team's offense for many years
4
US
: to read the news on (a television broadcast) : to be the anchorman or anchorwoman on (a news program)
She anchors the nightly news broadcast.
Cite this Entry
“Anchor.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/anchor. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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