abode

noun

ə-ˈbōd 

1

: the place where one lives : home

were reluctant to leave their lifelong abode

Welcome to my humble abode.

2

: a temporary stay : sojourn

… if any such dares to continue his abode in a family where his coming was an unauthorized intrusion …

—Walter Scott

3

obsolete : wait, delay

Synonyms of abode

• residence
• dwelling
• house
• home
• lodging
• roof
• place

Examples of abode in a Sentence

welcome to my humble abode

Recent Examples on the Web

The 10,600-square-foot abode sits on a prime lakefront lot in the South Florida town, which sits just to the east of Fort Lauderdale. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Mar. 2026

Written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco The Peabody hotel in Memphis has a small flock of dapper ducks who march down from their rooftop abode to hold court in the lobby fountain each day. —Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026

Under a treaty, the Common Travel Agreement, Irish citizens have the right of abode in England. —Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026

Surrounded by wide open expanses of the Santa Monica Mountains, this modern abode has a direct connection with its surroundings via the sliding doors and casement windows that swing open to beckon in fresh air and sunlight. —Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abade, abode, from bade, bode "stay, delay" (going back to Old English bād "expectation, period of waiting," probably going back to Germanic *baiđ-, noun derivative from the base of *bīđ- "wait, bide") crossed with abiden "to abide"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing abode

• no fixed abode
• place of abode

Rhymes for abode

• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode
• corrode
• crossroad
• decode

Kids Definition

abode

noun

ə-ˈbōd 

: the place where one stays or lives

Legal Definition

abode

past and past participle of abide