abode

noun

ə-ˈbōd 

1

: the place where one lives : home

were reluctant to leave their lifelong abode

Welcome to my humble abode.

2

: a temporary stay : sojourn

… if any such dares to continue his abode in a family where his coming was an unauthorized intrusion …

—Walter Scott

3

obsolete : wait, delay

Synonyms

• diggings
• domicile
• dwelling
• fireside
• habitation
• hearth
• hearthstone
• home
• house
• lodging
• pad
• place
• quarters
• residence
• roof

Examples of abode in a Sentence

welcome to my humble abode

Recent Examples on the Web

But Martin, who’s also an heir to the wealthy de Young family behind the San Francisco Chronicle and de Young Museum, did spend two years and millions of dollars gut-renovating the handsome circa 1908 abode in collaboration with architect Houman Sharif and builder Clayton Timbrell. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2025

In a recent study in the Journal of Experimental Biology, scientists found that the caterpillars are fiercely protective of their little abode. —Rohini Subrahmanyam, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2025

Lenny Kravitz is giving a glimpse inside his humble abode in Paris. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025

While the family is trying to locate the abode, Blake is clawed by a werewolf and soon begins to physically transform and exhibit attributes and senses that are not human. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abade, abode, from bade, bode "stay, delay" (going back to Old English bād "expectation, period of waiting," probably going back to Germanic *baiđ-, noun derivative from the base of *bīđ- "wait, bide") crossed with abiden "to abide"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing abode

• no fixed abode
• place of abode

Rhymes for abode

• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode
• corrode
• crossroad
• decode

Kids Definition

abode

noun

ə-ˈbōd 

: the place where one stays or lives

Legal Definition

abode

past and past participle of abide