dwell

dwell

intransitive verb \ˈdwel\

dwelled \ˈdweld, ˈdwelt\ or dwelt \ˈdwelt\ dwelling

Definition of DWELL

1

: to remain for a time

2

a : to live as a resident

b : exist, lie

3

a : to keep the attention directed —used with on or upon <tried not to dwell on my fears>

b : to speak or write insistently —used with on or upon <reporters dwelling on the recent scandal>

— dwell·er noun

Examples of DWELL

1. a cave where bats dwell
2. <dwelling with a farm family as an exchange student in France>

Origin of DWELL

Middle English, from Old English dwellan to go astray, hinder; akin to Old High German twellen to tarry

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DWELL

Synonyms

abide, ¹stay, hang around, remain, stick around, tarry

Antonyms

bail, bail out, bug out, buzz (off), clear off [chiefly British], clear out, cut out, depart, exit, get off, go, go off, leave, move, pack (up or off), peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, shove (off), take off, vamoose, walk out

Related Words

await, hang on, hold on, wait; dally, dawdle, linger, loiter; outstay, overstay

Near Antonyms

abscond, book [slang], decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, run away, scat, scram, skip; abandon, desert, forsake, vacate

Rhymes with DWELL

bel, bell, belle, cel, cell, dell, el, ell, fell, gel, Hel, hell, jell, knell, l, mell, quell, sell, shell, smell, snell, spell, swell, tell, well, yell