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

All of the rooms come with fun little amenities, like book collections curated by local tastemakers, and many of the abodes come with sweeping DTLA skyline views. —Krista Simmons, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2026

There’s no better time for late-night talks and cozy dinner dates and right in the comfort of your humble abode. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026

Consider color drenching with a moody shade to turn your space into a cozy winter abode. —Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026

Use it as your next humble abode or transform it into a guest house, in-law suite, workshop, or office. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026

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