dwell

verb

dwelled ˈdweld How to pronounce dwell (audio)
ˈdwelt
or dwelt ˈdwelt How to pronounce dwell (audio) ; dwelling
Synonyms of dwellnext

intransitive verb

1
: to remain for a time
dwell in the hallway
2
a
: to live as a resident
the town in which he dwelled for eight years
the dwelling place of the gods
b
: exist, lie
where the heart of the matter dwells
3
a
: to keep the attention directed
used with on or upon
tried not to dwell on my fears
b
: to speak or write insistently
used with on or upon
reporters dwelling on the recent scandal
dweller noun

Examples of dwell in a Sentence

a cave where bats dwell dwelling with a farm family as an exchange student in France
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Of the countless memoirs dwelling on the Cuban revolution of 1959, Sheppard’s may be the most heart wrenching and the most beautifully written. Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025 In Mann’s view, the best approach to providing context is to plainly state the facts of the incident without glossing over your mistake or dwelling on it. Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025 And then there were some who, if willing to grant that the sneakers were real and from a future launch, scorned Staple nonetheless for continuing to fixate on a 20-year-old success much like a former high-school quarterback dwelling on his glory days. Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 11 Dec. 2025 Where the head and torso fail to dwell, typography thrives. Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dwell

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English dwellan to go astray, hinder; akin to Old High German twellen to tarry

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dwell was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dwell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dwell. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

dwell

verb
dwelled ˈdweld How to pronounce dwell (audio) ˈdwelt How to pronounce dwell (audio) or dwelt ˈdwelt How to pronounce dwell (audio) ; dwelling
1
: to stay for a while
2
: to live in a place : reside
3
: to keep the attention directed
dwelled on their mistakes
dweller noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dwell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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