haven

UK /ˈheɪvən/ US /ˈheɪvən/ Syllables: ha-ven

Pronunciation

Noun C1 Advanced Neutral

A place where someone feels safe, protected, or free from trouble.

A haven is a place of safety, rest or shelter. It can be a quiet room where you escape from stress, a country that protects people in danger, or a harbor where ships shelter from storms. The word often appears in phrases such as a safe haven, a tax haven and a haven from noise. Close words are refuge, sanctuary, shelter, retreat and harbor. The opposite idea is a danger zone or a hazard. Haven is not the same as heaven, though the two look alike and a haven can feel heavenly. A haven is a real or imagined place of safety. Haven also exists as a rare verb meaning to shelter.

"The little cafe became a haven from the noise of the city outside."

Meanings

A place where someone feels safe, protected or free from trouble.
A harbor or port where ships can shelter (dated).

Example sentences

"The garden was a haven from the noise of the city."

Level C1, Meaning 1
"The island became a haven for birds."

Level C1, Meaning 1
"Many companies keep money in a tax haven."

Level C1, Meaning 1
"The library is a quiet haven for students."

Level B2, Meaning 1
"The village was a safe haven during the storm."

Level B2, Meaning 1

Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms

refuge sanctuary

Look-alikes and common mistakes

heaven : Heaven is a place of perfect happiness, often in religion. A haven is a place of safety.
harbor : A harbor is a sheltered place on the coast for ships. Haven can mean the same, but it is also used for any safe place.
refuge : Refuge is a close synonym. A haven often suggests calm and comfort as well.

Word family and forms

Forms: havens

safe haven tax haven

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "haven".

a safe haven
a tax haven
a haven from
a peaceful haven
a haven of calm
a haven for wildlife
a quiet haven

Origin

Haven comes from Old English haefen, which meant a harbor or port. It is related to Dutch haven, German Hafen and Old Norse hofn, and it may be connected to the Germanic word for sea. English had the word before the year 1050.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

Usage notes

Appears in fixed phrases like "tax haven" and "safe haven".

How to remember it

Spell it a, v, e, n. A haven gives shelter, like a harbor in a storm.

Test yourself

Which word fits the gap? "The garden was a _____ from the noise of the city."

Answer: haven

In your own words, what does "haven" mean?