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

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.

Ayewa doesn’t spend her energy dwelling on the shortcomings of the past or present, but instead insists that we all take action and work toward a better future.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

He said he doesn’t allow himself the luxury of dwelling on mistakes while still in the job.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Kylie, 28, who is currently in a very high-profile relationship with Timothee Chalamet, purchased the sprawling 13,200-square-foot Hidden Hills dwelling for $12.05 million in late 2016, when she was just 19.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

Douglas, 81, and Zeta-Jones, 56, first put their sprawling New York dwelling on the market in June 2024, less than five years after buying the historical property for just $4.5 million.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

They reached the town, they came to the palace, and at last after twenty years Odysseus entered his dear dwelling.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

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