harbouring

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'harbouring' is correct and is used in written English.
You can use it to refer to both a literal and figurative act of providing protection or support. For example, "The town was known for its longstanding tradition of harbouring political dissidents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

iPhone / iPad Dungeon Hunter 5 (Free + IAP) If swords, monsters and dungeon-crawling are your thing, Dungeon Hunter 5 is well worth a look – as long as you're not harbouring fond memories of earlier games in this series that weren't freemium.

The Guardian - Tech

The lockdown follows a two-week door-to-door operation February in Port Loko, a coastal district immediately north and east of the Western Area, to find out if families were harbouring patients or concealing bodies.

The Guardian

It blamed the failure of Annan's mission on foreign governments supporting and harbouring "armed terrorist groups".

The Guardian

Finally, a tip for those who think their computer may be harbouring the Superfish certificate that caused all the trouble.

The Economist

Besides harbouring millions of species, fisheries provide the primary source of protein for a billion people and livelihoods for hundreds of millions, most of them poor.

The Economist

Mr Chávez likes to threaten war against Colombia, which in turn accuses him of harbouring its FARC guerrillas.

The Economist

But the army's diffidence is increasingly being taken as evidence that, despite Mr Musharraf's protestations to the contrary, Pakistan never abandoned its policy of harbouring terrorists at home and sponsoring them abroad.

The Economist

The interior minister has accused a leading MMA member, Jamaat-e-Islami, of harbouring fugitives.But a real showdown with the MMA is unlikely.

The Economist

Gazans have been shut away in their fetid, overcrowded strip, oppressed by both Hamas, whose rule has been harsh, and Israel, which has punished them for harbouring what it deems to be a terrorist regime.

The Economist

India faces similar denials when it takes Bangladesh to task for allegedly harbouring some of the many separatist groups fighting in India's north-east.

The Economist

The ruling party accuses the CUF of harbouring plans to dissolve the union with Tanzania and reinstate the Arab sultanate that was toppled in the 1964 revolution.The fight may decide the direction of Zanzibar's economy.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "harbouring" in a sentence, ensure that the subject is capable of providing refuge or support, whether physically or metaphorically.

Common error

Avoid using "harbouring" to describe simply liking something; it implies active protection or concealment. Use "enjoying" or "appreciating" instead to convey simple positive sentiment.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "harbouring" is that of a present participle, often acting as part of a continuous verb tense or as an adjective modifying a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and typical usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "harbouring" functions primarily as a present participle or gerund, describing the act of providing shelter or support, often with an element of concealment. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and widely used. It's commonly found in news media and formal writing, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using "harbouring", it's important to consider its scope and potential negative connotations, opting for alternatives like "sheltering" or "supporting" depending on the context. The prevalence of "harbouring" across authoritative sources such as The Economist and The Guardian underscores its established usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sheltering

Refers more directly to physical protection or refuge.

protecting

Emphasizes guarding against harm or danger.

supporting

Highlights providing assistance or approval.

fostering

Implies active encouragement and development of something.

nurturing

Implies careful and sustained care.

concealing

Focuses on hiding or keeping something secret.

accommodating

Suggests providing space or resources.

maintaining

Focuses on keeping something in its current state.

cultivating

Implies deliberate development or growth.

entertaining

Involves considering or holding an idea or feeling.

FAQs

How can I use "harbouring" in a sentence?

You can use "harbouring" to describe physically sheltering someone or figuratively protecting an idea or feeling. For example, "The country was accused of "harbouring terrorists"" or "She was "harbouring doubts" about the project".

What's the difference between "harbouring" and "sheltering"?

"Harbouring" often implies secrecy or illegality, while "sheltering" is more neutral and refers to providing protection from the elements or danger. You could use "sheltering" when referring to protecting from a storm, for example, and "harbouring" when describing hiding someone from the authorities.

What can I say instead of "harbouring" when referring to feelings?

When describing feelings, consider using alternatives like "holding", "entertaining", or "nursing" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "harbouring" always associated with negative actions?

While "harbouring" is often used in contexts involving illegal or unethical activities, it can also be used in a neutral sense to describe simply providing refuge or support. Context is essential in determining its connotation.