wharf

noun

ˈ(h)wȯrf 

plural wharves ˈ(h)wȯrvz  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

Synonyms

• dock
• float
• jetty
• landing
• levee
• pier
• quai
• quay

Examples of wharf in a Sentence

tied the rowboat up at the wharf

Recent Examples on the Web

California wharf collapse sends 3 people into the ocean (NBC News) American Airlines is boarding flights again, and the FAA lifts its nationwide groundstop (CNN) Follow me on Twitter. —Alison Durkee, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024

What’s unique is how it’s split across three levels: the water level for boats; the upper pavement level for pedestrians; and the central middle level, which houses Utrecht’s wharf cellars, many of which have been transformed into atmospheric bankside cafes, bars, and restaurants. —Gurdeep Loyal, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2024

With his drone, Pan captured images of Space Launch complexes, military weapons bunkers, a payload processing facility and a submarine wharf, according to prosecutors. —Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025

The wharf has been closed off to the public since Monday’s high surf. —Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024

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

Rhymes for wharf

• dwarf
• morph
• orf
• polymorph

Kids Definition

wharf

noun

ˈhwȯrf 

ˈwȯrf

plural wharves ˈhwȯrvz 

ˈwȯrvz

also wharfs

: a structure built on the shore at which ships can load and unload