1
: to remain for a time
dwell in the hallway
2
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
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
Uncovering an ancient ancestor At first, scientists thought the ancient microbial ancestor of complex life was a simple cell, dwelling in oxygen-free environments.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Mayaka doesn’t dwell on his past opportunities.
—Idaho Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
The Hawks won’t have much time to dwell on the loss.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
The ability to respond with humor is akin to a shoulder shrug—you’re not going to dwell on what other people might think of you.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dwell
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Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Mayaka doesn’t dwell on his past opportunities.
—Idaho Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
The Hawks won’t have much time to dwell on the loss.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
The ability to respond with humor is akin to a shoulder shrug—you’re not going to dwell on what other people might think of you.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dwell
Cite this Entry
“Dwell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dwell. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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