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 of abode

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

Examples of abode in a Sentence

welcome to my humble abode

Recent Examples on the Web

So when the siblings decided to go in on a funky cabin in upstate New York’s Sullivan County—the former abode of postwar artist and textile designer Anthony Ballatore—it was assumed there would be creative sweat equity involved. —Elizabeth Kiefer, Architectural Digest, 6 Nov. 2025

The main level of the three-story abode includes the formal living and dining rooms, framed by walls of glass and wide-plank white-oak floors. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025

The house changed hands a few times before the Filson moved into the Beaux Arts-style abode almost 40 years ago. —Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Nov. 2025

The symbolism of a Caucasian family welcoming a stranger — an immigrant who doesn’t look like them — to share their abode, forcefully counters how immigrants to our shores often are othered and ostracized. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 5 Nov. 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