resided; residing
Synonyms of reside

intransitive verb

1
a
: to dwell permanently or continuously : occupy a place as one's legal domicile
b
: to be in residence as the incumbent of a benefice or office
c
: to be located or stationed
… the alleles interact intimately, even though they reside on separate chromosomes …Paul D. Soloway
2
a
: to exist or be present
… the concept of the space elevator has led to a variety of new ideas, and its value may finally reside in its tendency to provoke such speculation.Gregory Feeley
b
: to be vested as a right
the power of the purse resides in Congress
resider noun

Examples of reside in a Sentence

He resides in St. Louis. He still resides at his parents' house. Meaning resides within the text of the poem. The importance of this decision resides in the fact that it relates to people across the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For years, liberal candidates had focused on Texas’ most populous areas — cities where Democrats largely resided. Eleanor Dearman updated August 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026 The programs may look different from campus to campus, with some mascots living with their handlers as family pets, others residing in campus habitats or on private farms, and some receiving daily care from veterinary teams and student caretakers. Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 The sudden loss of TPS for so many Haitian employees who reside in the region has hit its economy hard. Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026 The show’s central quintet reside in the childhood home of Samir, whose semi-retired parents are on an apparently indefinite tour of the national parks. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reside

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French resider, from Latin residēre to sit back, remain, abide, from re- + sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of reside was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reside. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

resided; residing
1
: to live permanently or continuously
reside in St. Louis
2
: to be present as a part or quality
the power of veto resides in the president
resider noun
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