plural wharves ˈ(h)wȯrvz How to pronounce wharf (audio) also wharfs
1
: a structure built along or at an angle from the shore of navigable waters so that ships may lie alongside to receive and discharge cargo and passengers
2
obsolete : the bank of a river or the shore of the sea

Examples of wharf in a Sentence

tied the rowboat up at the wharf
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Or, the quaint cobblestone streets that lead to the historic wharves. Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025 Destructive waves keep thrashing Santa Cruz, causing millions of dollars in damage in recent years A large section of the city’s historic wharf collapsed this week, sending three people into the sea. Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024 What To Know In Santa Cruz, a 150-foot section of the city's wharf collapsed into the ocean on Monday, sending three city workers into the water. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024 Pounded by three years of rough surf, the Bay Area’s historic wharfs are struggling. Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for wharf

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hwearf embankment, wharf; akin to Old English hweorfan to turn, Old High German hwerban, Greek karpos wrist

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wharf was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wharf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wharf. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

wharf

noun
ˈhwȯrf How to pronounce wharf (audio)
ˈwȯrf
plural wharves ˈhwȯrvz How to pronounce wharf (audio)
ˈwȯrvz
also wharfs
: a structure built on the shore at which ships can load and unload

More from Merriam-Webster on wharf

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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