dwell

American  

[dwel] / dwɛl /

verb (used without object)

dwells, present (3rd person singular) dwelt, past participle, past dwelled, past participle, past dwelling present participle

1. to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside.

2. to live or continue in a given condition or state.

   to dwell in happiness.

3. to linger over, emphasize, or ponder in thought, speech, or writing (often followed by on orupon ).

   to dwell on a particular point in an argument.

4. (of a moving tool or machine part) to be motionless for a certain interval during operation.

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noun

1. Machinery.

   1. a flat or cylindrical area on a cam for maintaining a follower in a certain position during part of a cycle.

   2. a period in a cycle in the operation of a machine or engine during which a given part remains motionless.

dwell British  

/ dwɛl /

verb

1. formal to live as a permanent resident

2. to live (in a specified state)

   to dwell in poverty

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noun

1. a regular pause in the operation of a machine

2. a flat or constant-radius portion on a linear or rotary cam enabling the cam follower to remain static for a brief time

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dweller
  noun
• outdwell
  verb (used with object)
• predwell
  verb (used without object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has dwelt
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have dwelt
  perfect
• has dwelled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is dwelling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have dwelled
  perfect
• have been dwelling
  perfect progressive
• are dwelling
  progressive
• am dwelling
  progressive 1st person singular
• dwelling
  participle
• has been dwelling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• dwells
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had dwelled
  perfect
• had dwelt
  perfect
• was dwelling
  progressive singular
• had been dwelling
  perfect progressive
• were dwelling
  progressive plural
• dwelt
  participle
• dwelled
  simple
• dwelt
  simple
• dwelled
  participle

Future

• will dwell
  simple
• will have dwelled
  perfect
• will have dwelt
  perfect
• will have been dwelling
  perfect progressive
• will be dwelling
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of dwell

First recorded before 900; Middle English dwellen “to lead astray; stun; abide,” Old English dwellan “to lead or go astray; hinder”; cognate with Old Norse dvelja

Explanation

To dwell in a home is to live in it. To dwell on something — usually something bad, like a failed romance or terrible service in a restaurant — is to think or speak about it at great length. Dwell has been part of the English language for over 1,000 years. The definition of the word has evolved considerably since its first recorded use in the 9th century when Old English dwellan meant "lead astray" or "hinder." If you constantly dwell on the bad things in life, it could hinder you from seeing the good or lead you astray to the negative. If you keep complaining, your friends might tell you to stop dwelling on it or, if they're really annoyed, they'll say, "Get over it!"

Example Sentences

Forgiveness is posthumously granted through cinema, shaving away anything unpleasant that is no longer necessary to dwell on.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

Rather than dwell on the tragedy of an illness taking away someone so young, let’s celebrate his courage.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

He didn’t dwell on the product’s profit potential, focusing instead on its value to Apple’s overall ecosystem.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

But that morning, he didn’t have time to dwell on the attack.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

“Sorry that you think you have to, to dwell on everything like this. And that...”

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• bide
• exist
• hole up
• inhabit
• reside
• squat