refuge

noun

ref·uge | \ ˈre-(ˌ)fyüj also -(ˌ)fyüzh

Definition of refuge

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : shelter or protection from danger or distress

2 : a place that provides shelter or protection

3 : something to which one has recourse in difficulty

refuge

verb

refuged; refuging

Definition of refuge (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to give refuge to

intransitive verb

: to seek or take refuge

Synonyms Finding Refuge Example Sentences Learn More about refuge

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Synonyms for refuge

Synonyms: Noun

asylum, bolt-hole [chiefly British], harbor, harborage, haven, retreat, sanctuary, sanctum, shelter

Synonyms: Verb

harbor, shelter

Examples of refuge in a Sentence

Noun

hunting is strictly forbidden in the wildlife refuge

Verb

a nation with a long, honorable history of refuging political asylum seekers

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The hatchlings are then released back into ponds that the FPL created or relocated to refuges, in order to increase their chances of survival. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Why Florida Crocs Are Thriving Outside a Nuclear Power Plant," 23 July 2019 The abduction of an elderly one-winged bald eagle from a Long Island wildlife refuge last week has sparked a desperate search and prompted a $12,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the bird's captor. — Robert Gearty, Fox News, "One-winged bald eagle’s snatching from Long Island refuge leads to hefty reward," 22 July 2019 But in the meantime anyone who passes through Guatemala or Mexico on the way to the southern border without first seeking refuge there may be turned away. — The Economist, "The White House ditches half a century of immigration law," 20 July 2019 The caption revealed that this serene scene took place at a bear refuge in Kuterevo, in the Velebit mountains of Croatia. — Cady Lang, Time, "A Very Chill Bear Follows His Bliss By Soaking Its Troubles Away in a Bath," 16 July 2019 In that way the camp remains a relevant refuge from a world that has seen increased displays of antisemitism and Muslim bigotry that some parents blame on our national leadership. — Marcus Harrison Green, The Seattle Times, "Seattle camp plants seeds for change in Middle East — and at home," 16 July 2019 In fact, Sacramento — based on historical records and fault maps — is unquestionably the safest earthquake refuge among all of California’s major metropolitan areas. — George Skelton, The Mercury News, "Skelton: What’s the safest California city in an earthquake?," 15 July 2019 In December of 1941, what had been a refuge quickly became a war zone. — courant.com, "Imanuel Willheim," 14 July 2019 The Trump administration moved in 2017 to eliminate the $1.5 million-a-year breeding program, run by the U.S. Geological Survey on a federal Fish and Wildlife Service refuge, according to the Washington Post. — Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee County Zoo's whooping crane pair act as foster parents to chick born at the zoo," 28 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Eventually, young Jan and his father paid smugglers to guide them to refuge in Bardejov, Slovakia. — James R. Hagerty, WSJ, "Holocaust Survivor Rushed to Make Up for Lost Time and Lives," 2 Nov. 2018 Last year, Chechnya was back in the headlines after reports that officials had conducted a brutal purge of gay men, sparking global outrage and prompting a coordinated international effort to grant the men refuge abroad. — Washington Post, "Chechnya’s leader uses World Cup to extend his outreach to Middle East," 27 May 2018 Somehow, the sisters — ages 12, 8, 5 and 2 — made their way to refuge in Bangladesh. — Hannah Beech, New York Times, "The Rohingya Suffer Real Horrors. So Why Are Some of Their Stories Untrue?," 1 Feb. 2018 On a bare stage with only two chairs and a table , Samahir Farhan portrayed before 300 people the sense of helplessness and hopelessness that refugees feel. — Mahmoud Al-najjar And Gilgamesh Nabeel, USA TODAY, "Homeless, helpless refugees use theater to push for a better life in squalid Iraqi camp," 16 Sep. 2017 Groups like SIREN, an immigrant and refuge rights organization, have fielded 1,500 calls since the election. — Ramona Giwargis, The Mercury News, "San Jose, Santa Clara County approve plans to protect immigrants under Trump presidency," 10 Jan. 2017 Later Monday evening, Porter and his family drove out to Powell Park to join Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and Thorns defender Kendall Johnson for a large and fun game of soccer with dozens of young immigrant and refuge children. — Jamie Goldberg, OregonLive.com, "Portland Timbers, Thorns, T2 players and staff volunteer in community as part of Stand Together Week," 6 June 2017 By March 2014, the island’s livable habitat — that is, the area above the high-tide mark — was the smallest ever recorded, and refuge sites for the melomys in rock caves, crevices and overhangs had begun to disappear, the report said. — Michelle Innis, New York Times, "Today’s Headlines: Asia Edition," 14 June 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'refuge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.