Dwell — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈdwel/

Meaning & Definition of Dwell

Dwell (verb)

  1. to remain for a time
  2. to live as a resident
  3. exist, lie

Dwell (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time

    "dwelling with a farm family as an exchange student in France"

    similar: abide, hang around, remain, stay, stick around, tarry
    related: await, hang on, hold on, wait, dally, dawdle, linger, loiter, outstay, overstay
    opposite: bail, bail out, bug out, buzz (off), clear off (chiefly British), clear out, cut out, depart, exit, get off, go, go off, leave, move, pack (up or off), peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, shove (off), take off, vamoose, walk out
    near: abscond, book (slang), decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, run away, scat, scram, skip, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate

  2. to have a home

    "the widow dwells in the valley by herself"

    similar: abide, live, reside
    related: lodge, settle, stay, frequent, hang (at), haunt, visit, cohabit, inhabit, occupy, people, populate, lease, rent, sublet, tenant

Related Entry: Dwell (on or upon) (verb)

Dwell (on or upon) is a different word from Dwell. The synonyms below are for dwell (on or upon), not for dwell.

  1. to speak or write about insistently and usually tiresomely

    "she was always dwelling on past insults and snubs, both real and imagined"

    similar: belabor, harp (on)
    related: accent, accentuate, emphasize, pay (up), point (up), stress, underline, underscore
    opposite: disregard, forget, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over)

Related Entry: Dwell (on) (verb)

Dwell (on) is a different word from Dwell. The synonyms below are for dwell (on), not for dwell.

  1. as in mull (over), ponder

    similar: brood, mull (over), muse (over), ponder, grump, mope, pout, sulk, frown, glower, lower, scowl, carry on, take on, pet

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dwell

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dwell:

abide, hang around, remain, stay, stick around, tarry, live, reside

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dwell

Words with the opposite meaning of Dwell:

bail, bail out, bug out, buzz (off), clear off, clear out, cut out, depart, exit, get off, go, go off, leave, move, pack (up or off), peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, shove (off), take off, vamoose, walk out

Related Words for Dwell

await, hang on, hold on, wait, dally, dawdle, linger, loiter, outstay, overstay, lodge, settle, frequent, hang (at), haunt, visit, cohabit, inhabit, occupy, people, populate, lease, rent, sublet, tenant

Near Antonyms of Dwell

abscond, book, decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, run away, scat, scram, skip, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate

Word Forms of Dwell

Inflections: dwelled, dwelt, dwelling

Derived words: dweller (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Dwell

Middle English, from Old English dwellan to go astray, hinder; akin to Old High German twellen to tarry

First known use: 13th century

Words & Phrases Containing Dwell

dwell on/upon

Frequently Asked Questions about Dwell

What does "Dwell" mean?

"Dwell" means to remain for a time. As a verb, it is defined as: to remain for a time. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Dwell"?

Other words for "Dwell" include abide, hang around, remain, stay, stick around, tarry, live and reside. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dwell" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dwell"?

There are 33 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dwell". Common alternatives include abide, hang around, remain, stay, stick around, tarry, live and reside.

What is the opposite of "Dwell"?

Antonyms of "Dwell" include bail, bail out, bug out, buzz (off), clear off, clear out, cut out and depart. Near antonyms include abscond, book, decamp and escape.

How do you use "Dwell" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dwell" in a sentence: "dwelling with a farm family as an exchange student in France"; "the widow dwells in the valley by herself".

Is "Dwell" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Dwell" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Dwell"?

"Dwell" is pronounced /ˈdwel/.

What is the origin of the word "Dwell"?

"Dwell" comes from Middle English, from Old English dwellan to go astray, hinder; akin to Old High German twellen to tarry. First known use: 13th century.