noun

dwelling

DWEHL-ihng

noun

A house or other place where someone lives.

"The old cottage had been a dwelling for over two centuries."

How to Use Dwelling

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA formal word for a home or place of residence.

When to use it

Common in legal, official, or formal writing ("dwelling unit," "single-family dwelling") rather than everyday speech.

Common pairings

human dwelling dwelling place single-family dwelling

dwellings plural

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The old cottage had been a _____ for over two centuries.

From Middle English dwellynge, the noun form of "dwell," originally meaning "delay" or "abode."

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