Dwell: meaning, definitions and examples

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dwell

 

[ dwel ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

in a house

To dwell means to live in a particular place. It is often used to describe where someone lives or resides.

Synonyms

inhabit, live, reside

Examples of usage

  • He dwells in a small cottage by the lake.
  • They dwell in a bustling city apartment.
  • We dwell in a cozy house in the suburbs.
Context #2 | Verb

on a thought or feeling

To dwell can also mean to think or talk a lot about something, especially something negative. It implies remaining focused on a particular subject or feeling for an extended period of time.

Synonyms

fixate, obsess, ponder

Examples of usage

  • Don't dwell on your mistakes, learn from them and move on.
  • She dwells on the past too much, she needs to focus on the present.
  • He tends to dwell on his anxieties, which only makes them worse.

Translations

Translations of the word "dwell" in other languages:

🇵🇹 morar

🇮🇳 निवास करना

🇩🇪 wohnen

🇮🇩 tinggal

🇺🇦 мешкати

🇵🇱 mieszkać

🇯🇵 住む (sumu)

🇫🇷 habiter

🇪🇸 habitar

🇹🇷 ikamet etmek

🇰🇷 거주하다 (geojuhada)

🇸🇦 يعيش (ya'aysh)

🇨🇿 bydlet

🇸🇰 bývať

🇨🇳 居住 (jūzhù)

🇸🇮 prebivati

🇮🇸 búa

🇰🇿 тұру

🇬🇪 ცხოვრება (tskhoveba)

🇦🇿 yaşamaq

🇲🇽 habitar

Word origin

The word 'dwell' originated from the Old English word 'dwellan', which means 'to lead astray, hinder, delay, linger'. Over time, its meaning evolved to signify 'to reside, live'. The usage of 'dwell' has been traced back to the 13th century, where it was commonly used in the context of living in a particular place. It has since become a versatile word with both literal and metaphorical applications.

See also: dweller, dwellers, dwelling, dwelt.