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

Remnants of hearths inside the dwellings indicate the use of bones as fuel. —Literary Hub, 1 May 2026

In sharp contrast to the region’s traditional stone dwellings, the experimental concrete home—designed in his mid-20s with collaborators Roland Baltera and François Seigneur—stands out for its angular, unconventional form. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026

The listing isn’t much of a surprise, since Brolin has been putting the dwelling up for rent the last couple of years, priced at a crisp $35,000 a month. —Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 30 Apr. 2026

He was charged in September 2023 with battery and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and in May 2023 with battery, both classified in court records as misdemeanors. —Holly Ramer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 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.