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

Andy, meanwhile, receives a mid-movie upgrade to a new abode complete with a large bedroom, open kitchen, and wall of windows. —Mara Reinstein, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026

The midcentury abode was transferred to custodians of the McCann Trust that holds the property in 2022 and, after hitting the market April 10 for nearly $3 million, a contingent offer for its sale has already been accepted. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026

The abode had leopard-print walls, a red kitchen sink, black countertops and no other appliances, the Miami Herald reported in a 2005 profile of the couple. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026

The 935-square-foot abode, as well as the small town it's located in, served as inspiration for her upcoming album Middle of Nowhere, out May 1. —Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 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