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

De la Cruz, also in his 80s, retired from business and with five adult children dispersed around the country, sold the big house and moved to a Coconut Grove condo with a few favorite pieces and a panoramic view across Biscayne Bay of his former Island Paradise abode. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025

Harry recalled visiting the charming abode in Spare. —Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 27 Nov. 2025

The 1950s abode rests beyond gates on less than a quarter-acre of land off a secluded cul-de-sac. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2025

The star still has roots in his home country, having previously given a tour of his Melbourne abode for Architectural Digest's May 2021 issue. —Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 17 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