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

• residence
• dwelling
• house
• home
• lodging
• roof
• place

Examples of abode in a Sentence

welcome to my humble abode

Recent Examples on the Web

The Georgian-style abode was originally built in 2009 for Rob Lowe, who opened its doors to Architectural Digest the following year. —India Roby, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025

The abode is at the bleeding edge of residential design, too, with a customizable smart-home system, hospital-grade air filtration, advanced security, and a water recycling system. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2025

Monogram pumpkins and place them on your front porch for outdoor pumpkin decor that welcomes guests to your bewitching abode. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025

The result is about 10 rooms inside the A-lister’s California home being redesigned, bringing her hopes for the abode to fruition. —Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 1 Oct. 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