Phrase guide

weigh anchor

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To raise the anchor of a ship or boat prior to getting under way.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

Examples

  • 1986, Ben Elton et al., Blackadder II, 3: "Potato" - Aah-ahhh! You have a woman’s hand, milord! I’ll wager these dainty pinkies never weighed anchor in a storm. - Well, you’re right there.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: drop anchor

2

verb

Meaning 2

heave up an anchor in preparation for sailing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: weigh the anchor

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: heave, heave up, heft, heft up

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: malankri — raise the anchor
  • Esperanto: levi la ankron — raise the anchor
  • Faroese: lætta akker — raise the anchor
  • Finnish: nostaa ankkuri — raise the anchor
  • French: lever l'ancre — raise the anchor
  • German: den Anker lichten — raise the anchor
  • Greek: σηκώνω άγκυρα (sikóno ágkyra) — raise the anchor
  • Hebrew: הֶעֱלָה עֹגֶן (he'ela ogen) — raise the anchor
  • Hebrew: הֵרִים עֹגֶן (herim ogen) — raise the anchor
  • Ido: desankragar — raise the anchor
  • Italian: levare l'ancora — raise the anchor
  • Japanese: 抜錨 (batsubyou) — raise the anchor
  • Spanish: levar anclas — raise the anchor
  • Spanish: levar — raise the anchor
  • Swedish: lätta ankar — raise the anchor
  • Turkish: demir almak — raise the anchor
  • Welsh: codi angor — raise the anchor
  • Welsh: dirwyn angor — raise the anchor