: 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
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The two anchors of the Minnesota defense, Jaden McDaniels and Gobert, have been so far mostly reduced to functioning as minor nuisances to Doncic.—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 May 2024 Ground anchor systems, including bungee cords, tie-down kits.—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 25 May 2024
Verb
Then anchor your living room or bedroom with this area rug from a Loloi and Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines collab.—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 31 May 2024 The free event, anchored by the Kansas City Symphony’s patriotic concert, drew what officials estimated as 50,000 people.—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for anchor
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anchor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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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