dwelling

noun

dwell·​ing ˈdwe-liŋ 

: a shelter (such as a house) in which people live

Synonyms of dwelling

• residence
• abode
• house
• roof
• lodging
• home
• housing

Examples of dwelling in a Sentence

the simple dwellings in which the Pilgrims spent the first winter at Plymouth

Recent Examples on the Web

Later, there were dirt roads and wells and a veneer of soot covering even the nicest dwellings. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 22 July 2026

Barrett is codirecting an excavation project at Pompeii that explores a larger elite house and an adjacent smaller dwelling to understand how the relationships between the people in both households changed over time. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

The analysis prepared for The Courant by SmartMLS, the statewide multiple listing service, includes single-family houses, condos and one-to-four family dwellings. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

The dwelling comes with a private deck with its own entrance and an additional guest suite with a bathroom in the basement. — India Roby, Architectural Digest, 15 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

see dwell

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dwelling

• dwelling place
• lake dwelling
• two-family house/dwelling

Rhymes for dwelling

• belling
• celling
• fehling
• felling
• gelling
• pelling
• quelling
• selling
• shelling
• smelling
• spelling
• swelling

Kids Definition

dwelling

noun

dwell·​ing

ˈdwel-iŋ

: a shelter in which people live : house

Legal Definition

dwelling

noun

dwell·​ing

: a structure where a person lives and especially sleeps

called also dwelling house

see also burglary

Note: Courts disagree as to how permanent or consistent the habitation of a structure must be in order for it to be considered a dwelling, but most courts agree that a dwelling includes its curtilage.