What does "dover" mean?
A town, civil parish (with a town council) and major port in Kent, England, the closest point to France (OS grid ref TR3141).
Dover
/ˈdoʊ.vɚ/ name
name ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A town, civil parish (with a town council) and major port in Kent, England, the closest point to France (OS grid ref TR3141).
- Grammar: dover is listed as name.
- Nearest alternatives: city, municipality, nap, port town.
- Useful contrasts: inland town, rural town.
- Usage evidence: It's on the coast about 13 kilometers to the north of its more famous neighbor, Dover.
How to use "dover"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dover" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dover" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "dover" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "dover" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "dover" is acting as name in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "city" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "dover", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Proper Noun
- 1 A town, civil parish (with a town council) and major port in Kent, England, the closest point to France (OS grid ref TR3141).
- 2 A sea area between this port and France.
- 3 A local government district of Kent, including this town and port.
- 4 A neighbourhood of Abram, Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England (OS grid ref SD6001).
- 5 A town in Huon Valley council area, southern Tasmania, Australia.
Show 33 more definitions
- 6 A neighborhood of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- 7 A small fishing and lumber town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; formerly, Shoal Bay and Wellington.
- 8 A village in Nova Scotia, Canada.
- 9 A neighborhood of Singapore.
- 10 A number of places in the United States:; The capital city of Delaware, and the county seat of Kent County.
- 11 A number of places in the United States:; A town and township in Pope County, Arkansas.
- 12 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida.
- 13 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Screven County, Georgia.
- 14 A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Bonner County, Idaho.
- 15 A number of places in the United States:; A village in Bureau County, Illinois.
- 16 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Dearborn County, Indiana.
- 17 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Shawnee County, Kansas.
- 18 A number of places in the United States:; A minor home rule city in Mason County, Kentucky.
- 19 A number of places in the United States:; A former town in Piscataquis County, Maine, now Dover-Foxcroft, Maine.
- 20 A number of places in the United States:; A town and census-designated place therein, in Norfolk County, Massachusetts.
- 21 A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
- 22 A number of places in the United States:; A village in Lafayette County, Missouri.
- 23 A number of places in the United States:; A city, the county seat of Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States.
- 24 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Morris County, New Jersey.
- 25 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Dutchess County, New York.
- 26 A number of places in the United States:; A small town in Craven County, North Carolina.
- 27 A number of places in the United States:; A city in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
- 28 A number of places in the United States:; A small town in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.
- 29 A number of places in the United States:; A borough in York County, Pennsylvania.
- 30 A number of places in the United States:; A small town, the county seat of Stewart County, Tennessee.
- 31 A number of places in the United States:; A ghost town in Sanpete County, Utah.
- 32 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Windham County, Vermont.
- 33 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Loudoun County, Virginia.
- 34 A number of places in the United States:; A small town in Buffalo County, Wisconsin.
- 35 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Price County, Wisconsin.
- 36 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Racine County, Wisconsin.
- 37 A number of places in the United States:; A number of townships in the United States, listed under Dover Township.
- 38 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
inland townrural town
Example
"It's on the coast about 13 kilometers to the north of its more famous neighbor, Dover."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dover"?
Common synonyms include: city, municipality, nap, port town, settlement, state capital.
How do you use "dover" in a sentence?
It's on the coast about 13 kilometers to the north of its more famous neighbor, Dover.
How do you pronounce "dover"?
Pronounced /ˈdoʊ.vɚ/.
Etymology
From Old English Dofras, from Latin Dubris, from Brythonic Dubras (“the waters”), from Proto-Celtic *dubros (“water”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰubrós (“dark”), from *dʰewb- (“deep”). Compare Tauber. The village in Nova Scotia is likely named after the town in England.