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

On March 19, the dwelling returned to the market for a third time with an even bigger discount—offered up for just $9.75 million.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

He didn’t dare knock, but he knew that any moment now the silversmith would be closing his shop, leaving for his dwelling in near-by North Square.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

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