often attributive
1
: a building that serves as living quarters for one or a few families : home
invited them to her house for dinner
a two-family house
2
3
a
astrology
: one of the 12 equal sectors (see sector entry 1 sense 1a) in which the celestial sphere is divided
b
astrology
: a sign of the zodiac that is the seat of a planet's greatest influence
the house occupied by Jupiter
4
a
: household
woke up the whole house
b
: a family including ancestors, descendants, and kindred
the house of Tudor
5
a
: a residence for a religious community or for students
a fraternity house
b
: the community or students living in such a residence
6
a
government
: a legislative, deliberative, or consultative assembly
especially
: one constituting a division of a bicameral body
a bill approved by both houses of Congress
—often used in capitalized form as the shortened name of a specific house The bill passed in both the House and the Senate.
MPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Government's Brexit Bill in the House of Commons. … The House voted in favour of the bill by 498 to 114 … —
Chloe Chaplain
Chloe Chaplain
b
: the building or chamber where such an assembly meets
c
: a quorum of such an assembly
7
a
: a place of business or entertainment
a movie house
the local fish house
a house of prostitution
Save room for a soufflé, the century-long house specialty …—Thomas P. Farley
Thomas P. Farleya house cocktail [=a cocktail whose recipe was created by the bar, restaurant, etc. at which it is served]
b(1)
: a business organization
a publishing house
(2)
: a gambling establishment
c
: the audience in a theater or concert hall
a full house on opening night
8
curling
: the circular area 12 feet in diameter surrounding the tee and within which a curling stone must rest in order to count
9
[from The Warehouse, Chicago dance club that pioneered the style]
: a type of dance music mixed by a disc jockey that features overdubbing with a heavy repetitive drumbeat and repeated electronic melody lines
housed; housing
1
a
: to provide with living quarters or shelter
a place to house their guests
b
: to store in a building
the barn where they house their boat
2
: to encase, enclose, or shelter as if by putting in a house (see house entry 1)
so timorous a soul housed in so impressive a body—A. W. Long
A. W. Long3
: to serve as a shelter or container for : contain
buildings that house government offices
: to take shelter : lodge
Synonyms
Examples of house in a Sentence
Noun
Would you like to come to my house for dinner?
I spent the weekend just puttering around the house.
He made enough noise to wake the whole house.
Verb
More prisons are needed to house the growing number of inmates.
The museum houses an impressive collection of jewels.
The carpenter built casing to house the hot water pipes.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebJacobina Martin, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
For instance, while home with her children in Georgia, rather than being fully glamorous as she is often depicted, the former wears a relaxed floral house dress with an apron.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 18 Nov. 2023
The Grand Floridian Resort houses Disney World Resort’s only full-service spa where guests ages 14 and up are greeted with calming stones and aromatics of their choice prior to receiving services like the Tired Feet Rejuvenation massage or the Pumpkin Spice Honey Manicure.
—Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
Inbar Goldstein visits her parents' house for the first time after it was burnt in Hamas' attack in Kfar Aza, Israel, Nov. 10.
—WSJ, 17 Nov. 2023
Footage shows the homeowner walking up to his Los Angeles house with a drink in one hand and reaching for his keys in his pocket.
—Pilar Arias, Fox News, 6 Nov. 2023
The house is decorated with photos of the Mansarays smiling and close, Marcia's hair graying over the years.
—Monica Potts, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2023
In a few hours, the 47-year-old will rock the stage of Drai’s in front of a packed house that’ll include Ja Rule (donning a Jheri-curl wig for Halloween).
—Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2023
My nephews and nieces try to warn their Aunt Aya before the house shakes.
—Mosab Abu Toha, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
Mark David, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2023
Workers are slowly setting up a new trailer park to house legal teams for the someday trial.
—Carol Rosenberg, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
In recent days, many Maryland officials have applauded the decision to house the headquarters in Prince George’s.
—Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
Erected during the medieval ages and almost completely rebuilt in 1528 by Francis I in grand Italianate style, the palace was passed down through the generations and continued to house monarchs well into the 19th century.
—Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023
Seventeen stories tall, as wide as a football field and over 1,000 feet long, the wooden structures were built by the Navy in World War II to house dirigibles assigned to patrol the Pacific Coast.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
New York City, Chicago, Denver and other cities have struggled to house destitute Venezuelan migrants, most of whom don't have family members or friends in the U.S. who can take them in.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2023
But a $1,280 necklace isn’t exactly affordable for most teens, like the young Presley, who need a space to house their burning loves and desires.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2023
On Sunday, the city opened up an enormous tent facility to house migrants on the grounds of an old airfield in southern Brooklyn.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2023
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Noun
Other than something serious and unexpected, like an illness or a house fire, isn’t an invitation an invitation, period?
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
For instance, while home with her children in Georgia, rather than being fully glamorous as she is often depicted, the former wears a relaxed floral house dress with an apron.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 18 Nov. 2023
The Grand Floridian Resort houses Disney World Resort’s only full-service spa where guests ages 14 and up are greeted with calming stones and aromatics of their choice prior to receiving services like the Tired Feet Rejuvenation massage or the Pumpkin Spice Honey Manicure.
—Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
Inbar Goldstein visits her parents' house for the first time after it was burnt in Hamas' attack in Kfar Aza, Israel, Nov. 10.
—WSJ, 17 Nov. 2023
Footage shows the homeowner walking up to his Los Angeles house with a drink in one hand and reaching for his keys in his pocket.
—Pilar Arias, Fox News, 6 Nov. 2023
The house is decorated with photos of the Mansarays smiling and close, Marcia's hair graying over the years.
—Monica Potts, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2023
In a few hours, the 47-year-old will rock the stage of Drai’s in front of a packed house that’ll include Ja Rule (donning a Jheri-curl wig for Halloween).
—Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2023
My nephews and nieces try to warn their Aunt Aya before the house shakes.
—Mosab Abu Toha, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
Verb
Discretely housed on the lower level with an outside entrance is a small room and bathroom that easily serves as another bedroom, an art studio, or a gym.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2023
Workers are slowly setting up a new trailer park to house legal teams for the someday trial.
—Carol Rosenberg, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
In recent days, many Maryland officials have applauded the decision to house the headquarters in Prince George’s.
—Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
Erected during the medieval ages and almost completely rebuilt in 1528 by Francis I in grand Italianate style, the palace was passed down through the generations and continued to house monarchs well into the 19th century.
—Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023
Seventeen stories tall, as wide as a football field and over 1,000 feet long, the wooden structures were built by the Navy in World War II to house dirigibles assigned to patrol the Pacific Coast.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
New York City, Chicago, Denver and other cities have struggled to house destitute Venezuelan migrants, most of whom don't have family members or friends in the U.S. who can take them in.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2023
But a $1,280 necklace isn’t exactly affordable for most teens, like the young Presley, who need a space to house their burning loves and desires.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2023
On Sunday, the city opened up an enormous tent facility to house migrants on the grounds of an old airfield in southern Brooklyn.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'house.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English hous, from Old English hūs; akin to Old High German hūs house
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of house was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing house
Dictionary Entries Near house
Cite this Entry
“House.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/house. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
house
1 of 2 noun
plural houses
ˈhau̇-zəz 
1
: a building in which one or more families live
2
a
: something (as a nest or den) used by an animal for shelter
b
: a building in which something is stored
carriage house
3
a
: one of the 12 equal sections into which the celestial sphere is divided in astrology
b
: a sign of the zodiac that is the seat of a planet's greatest influence
4
b
: family sense 2
especially
: a royal or noble family
5
: a residence for a religious community or for students
6
: a body of persons assembled to make and discuss laws
7
a
: a place of business or entertainment
went to a movie house
b
: a business firm
a publishing house
c
: the audience in a theater or concert hall
played to a full house
Legal Definition
house
noun1
a
: a building (as a single or multiple family house, apartment, or hotel room) serving as living quarters and usually including the curtilage
b
: a building (as one's residence or a locked place of business) in which one is entitled to protection (as from warrantless searches and seizures) under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
2
a
: a legislative assembly especially that constitutes a division of a bicameral body
b
: the building or chamber where such an assembly meets
c
: a quorum of such an assembly
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on house
Nglish: Translation of house for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of house for Arabic Speakers
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