What does harboring mean?
Harboring is a verb with two broad meanings. At its most general, it means giving shelter or protection to someone or something, as in a story about a family harboring a fugitive. In a more figurative sense, it means keeping a thought or feeling in one's mind: people harbor suspicions, doubts, grudges, hopes, or plans. The word often suggests that something is being kept active or concealed rather than openly expressed. Harboring is therefore useful when describing both physical refuge and the private maintenance of emotions or ideas. Its American spelling uses “-or-,” while British English generally uses “-our-.” The verb is common in news, legal, literary, and everyday speech, though phrases involving harboring a criminal or harboring hostility can have a strongly negative or accusatory tone.
verbTo give shelter or protection to someone or something, especially a person needing refuge. It can also mean to keep a thought, feeling, suspicion, or intention in one's mind, often with the implication of concealing or nursing it.
- To give shelter or protection to someone or something.
- To keep a thought, feeling, suspicion, or intention in one's mind.
- To conceal or provide refuge to a person, especially one wanted by authorities.
"The witness was accused of harboring the fugitive for several days."
"She had been harboring doubts about the proposal for weeks."
"The authorities believe the group is harboring a wanted criminal."
Harboring can mean offering refuge to someone in need—or quietly keeping suspicion or resentment alive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of harboring
The word entered Middle English in the form “herberen,” meaning to shelter or give lodging, borrowed from Old French “herber,” with a similar meaning. The verb developed into modern English “harbor” and its inflected form “harboring”; “harbour” is the traditional British spelling. Related forms include “harborage,” meaning shelter or a place of shelter, and “harbormaster,” the official responsible for a harbor.
Related word forms
How harboring is actually used
In American English, the usual spelling is harboring; British English commonly uses harbouring. The word is neutral when it refers to providing protection, but it can sound accusatory or legalistic when it means concealing a fugitive or harboring harmful intentions.