dwelling

American

[dwel-ing] / ˈdwɛl ɪŋ /

noun

a building or place of shelter to live in; place of residence; abode; home.

dwelling British

/ ˈdwɛlɪŋ /

noun

formal a place of residence

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See house.

Other Word Forms

multidwelling noun

Etymology

Origin of dwelling

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; dwell + -ing ¹

Explanation

A dwelling is a home — where someone lives. Houses, apartments, and condos are all dwellings. If you know that to dwell means to live somewhere, then the meaning of dwelling won't be a surprise: it's an abode, domicile, or home. Your dwelling might be a house or an apartment. Tents, trailers, and igloos are all dwellings. Anything people live in is a dwelling. If you have no dwelling, then you have no shelter and you're probably homeless.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fashion icon Kenneth Cole has listed his sprawling upstate New York home for $16 million—after letting George Clooney rent out the dwelling during his “Good Night, and Good Luck” Broadway run.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Hollywood actor Tate Donovan is parting ways with the beautiful Texas property he has owned for the last decade, listing the picturesque dwelling for just a hair under $1.7 million, Realtor.com can reveal.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Much like Hogan’s mansion—which occupies three stories—the cottage property backs right onto the beach, with a charming white picket fence added to separate the dwelling from the publicly accessible area.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Inside, the dwelling features a traditional beach cottage aesthetic, with bright white walls, exposed wooden beams, and wood flooring—ideal for preventing any sandy messes after a long day on the beach.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

She was instructed to leave her family dwelling and move to the Birthmothers' Dormitory.

From "Son" by Lois Lowry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023