dwell

verb

ˈdwel 

dwelled ˈdweld 

ˈdwelt

or dwelt ˈdwelt  ; dwelling

intransitive verb

1

: to remain for a time

dwell in the hallway

2

a

: to live as a resident

the town in which he dwelled for eight years

the dwelling place of the gods

b

: exist, lie

where the heart of the matter dwells

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

dweller

ˈdwe-lər 

noun

Synonyms

• remain
• stay
• wait

Examples of dwell in a Sentence

a cave where bats dwell

dwelling with a farm family as an exchange student in France

Recent Examples on the Web

The next big push for the 102-acre site — which boasts about 1,000 dwelling units across four apartment buildings, with 95% occupancy — is now coming into view. —John Aguilar, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025

Rather than dwell on her hunger, Kelsey made light of it, and to be honest, created one of the funnier segments in recent Alone memory. —Frederick Dreier, Outside, 18 Aug. 2025

Essentially, the summer is better corridor for the mega return of the green fairy-tale ogre and friends; that’s the season he’s always dwelled in. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2025

The positives of the final few minutes are not something Reeve will dwell on. —Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 28 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dwell

• dwell on/upon

Rhymes for dwell

• bel
• belle
• cel
• cell
• dell
• el
• ell
• fel
• fell
• gel
• gell
• jell

Kids Definition

dwell

verb

ˈdwel 

dwelled ˈdweld  ˈdwelt  or dwelt ˈdwelt  ; dwelling

1

: to stay for a while

2

: to live in a place : reside

3

: to keep the attention directed

dwelled on their mistakes

dweller noun