Housing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈhau̇-ziŋ/ hous·ing

Meaning & Definition of Housing

Housing (noun)

  1. shelter, lodging
  2. dwellings provided for people
  3. a niche for a sculpture
  4. caparison

Housing (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something that encloses another thing especially to protect it

    "a camera with a waterproof housing for taking pictures of coral reefs and other underwater features"

    similar: armor, capsule, case, casing, cocoon, cover, covering, encasement, hull, husk, jacket, pod, sheath, shell
    related: cartridge, cassette, bark, crust, carapace, house, mail, panoply, plate, plating, shield, cuticle, hide, skin, envelope, package, wrapper, backing, coating, coverture, facing

Housing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to provide with living quarters or shelter

    "some of the freshmen were temporarily housed in local motels while the new dorm was being finished"

    similar: accommodating, bestowing, billeting, bivouacking, boarding, bunking, camping, chambering, domiciling, encamping, harboring, lodging, putting up, quartering, roofing, rooming, sheltering, taking in
    related: ensconcing, homing, roosting, securing, shedding, stabling, tenting, barracking, bedding (down)
    near: ejecting, evicting

  2. to close or shut in by or as if by barriers

    "the famous document is housed in a special display case"

    similar: boxing (in), caging, closeting, cooping (up), corralling, encaging, encasing, enclosing, enveloping, fencing (in), hedging, hemming (in), immuring, including, mewing (up), penning, walling (in)
    related: bounding, circumscribing, confining, containing, limiting, restricting, encircling, encompassing, enfolding, enframing, enlacing, framing, ringing, surrounding, armoring, cocooning, encapsulating, encapsuling, encysting, ensheathing, ensphering, enwombing

Related Entry: House (verb)

House is a different word from Housing. The synonyms below are for house, not for housing.

  1. to provide with living quarters or shelter

    "some of the freshmen were temporarily housed in local motels while the new dorm was being finished"

    similar: accommodate, bestow, billet, bivouac, board, bunk, camp, chamber, domicile, encamp, harbor, lodge, put up, quarter, roof, room, shelter, take in
    related: ensconce, home, roost, secure, shed, stable, tent, barrack, bed (down)
    near: eject, evict

  2. to close or shut in by or as if by barriers

    "the famous document is housed in a special display case"

    similar: box (in), cage, closet, coop (up), corral, encage, encase, enclose, envelop, fence (in), hedge, hem (in), immure, include, mew (up), pen, wall (in)
    related: bound, circumscribe, confine, contain, limit, restrict, encircle, encompass, enfold, enframe, enlace, frame, ring, surround, armor, cocoon, encapsulate, encapsule, encyst, ensheathe, ensphere, enwomb

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Housing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Housing:

armor, capsule, case, casing, cocoon, cover, covering, encasement, hull, husk, jacket, pod, sheath, shell, accommodating, bestowing, billeting, bivouacking, boarding, bunking, camping, chambering, domiciling, encamping, harboring, lodging, putting up, quartering, roofing, rooming, sheltering, taking in, boxing (in), caging, closeting, cooping (up), corralling, encaging, encasing, enclosing

Related Words for Housing

cartridge, cassette, bark, crust, carapace, house, mail, panoply, plate, plating, shield, cuticle, hide, skin, envelope, package, wrapper, backing, coating, coverture, facing, ensconcing, homing, roosting, securing, shedding, stabling, tenting, barracking, bedding (down)

Near Antonyms of Housing

ejecting, evicting

Origin & Etymology of Housing

Middle English, from house housing (from Anglo-French huce, houce, of Germanic origin) + -ing; akin to Middle High German hulft covering

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Housing

Words & Phrases Containing Housing

housing development, housing estate, housing project, housing starts, housing stock, low-income housing

Frequently Asked Questions about Housing

What does "Housing" mean?

"Housing" means shelter, lodging. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: shelter, lodging. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Housing"?

Other words for "Housing" include armor, capsule, case, casing, cocoon, cover, covering and encasement. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Housing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Housing"?

There are 101 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Housing". Common alternatives include armor, capsule, case, casing, cocoon, cover, covering, encasement, hull and husk.

How do you use "Housing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Housing" in a sentence: "a camera with a waterproof housing for taking pictures of coral reefs and other underwater features"; "some of the freshmen were temporarily housed in local motels while the new dorm was being finished"; "the famous document is housed in a special display case".

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

"Housing" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Housing" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Housing" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Housing"?

"Housing" is pronounced /ˈhau̇-ziŋ/ and divided into syllables as hous·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Housing"?

"Housing" comes from Middle English, from house housing (from Anglo-French huce, houce, of Germanic origin) + -ing; akin to Middle High German hulft covering. First known use: 14th century.