dwelling

1 of 2

noun

dwell·​ing ˈdwe-liŋ How to pronounce dwelling (audio)
Synonyms of dwelling
: a shelter (such as a house) in which people live

dwelling

2 of 2

present participle of dwell

Synonyms of dwelling

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Noun

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Examples of dwelling in a Sentence

Noun the simple dwellings in which the Pilgrims spent the first winter at Plymouth
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Noun
The Clintons still own the 11-room dwelling, which has served as their primary residence since Bill’s second term as president ended in 2001. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026 Named the Brda – the Polish name for this type of traditional A-frame house – the dwelling is designed by Mini Domy. — New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026 As the fire raged, mother and son used garden hoses to defend their property as nearby dwellings were torched. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The family soon moved to a one-bedroom cabin in the nearby town of Locust Ridge, a dwelling that figures proudly in Parton’s rags-to-riches lore. — Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dwelling

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see dwell

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dwelling was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing dwelling

Rhymes for dwelling

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Browse Nearby Words

dweller
dwelling
dwelling house
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Cite this Entry

“Dwelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dwelling. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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.

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