dwell
11 synonyms for dwell, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To live or reside in a place.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
harp on
populate
How to use dwell
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dwell on something
dwell in a place
"Dwell" meaning "to live" sounds literary or formal — everyday speech usually says "live" instead.
Etymology
From Old English dwellan, "to mislead" or "go astray," which shifted in meaning over time to "linger" and then "reside."
Full origin of dwell →Frequently asked questions
What does “dwell” mean?
The word “dwell” means to live or reside in a place. In plain terms, to live somewhere, or to keep mentally returning to a thought.
How do you pronounce “dwell”?
“Dwell” is pronounced dwehl (/dwɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “dwell” in a sentence?
Here is “dwell” used in a sentence: “Try not to dwell on the mistake — just move forward.”
What part of speech is “dwell”?
“Dwell” is a verb.
Where does the word “dwell” come from?
The word “dwell” comes from Old English. From Old English dwellan, "to mislead" or "go astray," which shifted in meaning over time to "linger" and then "reside.".
Is “dwell” a common word?
“Dwell” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dwell” have?
“Dwell” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to live or reside in a place.
What's the difference between dwell and live?
Dwell and live both mean to reside somewhere, but dwell is more formal or literary, often found in older or poetic writing, while live is the everyday word people use in conversation.
What does it mean to "dwell on" something?
To dwell on something means to keep thinking or talking about it, often longer than is helpful, such as dwelling on a past mistake or an unpleasant memory. This figurative sense is separate from the meaning of physically living somewhere.
Is "dwell" formal or informal?
Dwell is generally considered formal or literary when it refers to residing somewhere, and it's rarely used in casual speech to mean simply "live in a place." However, the phrase "dwell on" is common across registers when talking about worrying over a topic.
