verb
Uncommon
dwell
dwehl
Dwell (verb) means to live or reside in a place. Example: “The family has dwelt in this village for generations.”
verb
1
To live or reside in a place.
"The family has dwelt in this village for generations."
"Wild rabbits dwell in burrows beneath the old oak tree."
"In the story, a friendly giant dwells in a cave high on the mountain."
2
To keep thinking or talking about something, often unnecessarily.
"Try not to dwell on the mistake — just move forward."
"She kept dwelling on what she should have said."
"There is no point in dwelling on things you cannot change."
How to use dwell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo live somewhere, or to keep mentally returning to a thought.
When to use it
"Dwell" meaning "to live" sounds literary or formal — everyday speech usually says "live" instead.
Common pairings
dwell on something
dwell in a place
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Word forms
- Plural
- dwells
- Third person singular
- dwells
- Past tense
- dwelt, dwelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Wild rabbits _____ in burrows beneath the old oak tree.
Etymology
From Old English dwellan, "to mislead" or "go astray," which shifted in meaning over time to "linger" and then "reside."
Related words
Rhymes for dwell
See all rhymes for 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.
