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

But is using the mini dwellings even an effective way to reduce homelessness? —Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Use it to strategically bring some variation to your existing seating arrangement or cosplay a beachy decor scheme in your city dwellings. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2026

Despite keeping as much of their old routines as possible, including foregoing a live-in staff, Kate Middleton and Prince William’s grand new eight-room dwelling comes with twice the size of their former residence—and its own royal rules that not even the king-to-be is able to bend. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026

The entire space is flexible enough to be used as a guesthouse, mountainside cabin, or permanent dwelling depending on your needs. —Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 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.