ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dorm

n. · v.
US //ˈdɔɹm// UK //dˈɔːm// dorm
  1. 1 student housing (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal American English

    a building at a college or university where many students live, usually with shared bathrooms and common areas.

    a residential building provided by a college or university for student housing. Informal in register; 'dormitory' is the formal equivalent.

    Example

    I lived in a small dorm during my first year of university.

    Example

    The university recently renovated the oldest dorm on campus to include modern study lounges and high-speed internet access for all residents.
  2. 2 shared bedroom (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    a large room with many beds for several people to sleep in, often found in hostels.

    a large bedroom containing several beds, typically found in hostels, boarding schools, or military barracks.

    Example

    The hostel has a ten-bed dorm which is much cheaper than a private room.

    Example

    Backpackers often choose to stay in a shared dorm to save money and meet other travellers from around the world.
    • private room
  3. 3 to live in a dorm (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal American English

    to live or stay in a student residence building.

    to reside in a dormitory or similar communal housing. Intransitive; used primarily in collegiate contexts.

    Example

    Most freshmen are required to dorm on campus for at least two semesters.

    Example

    While many students prefer to rent apartments in the city, some choose to dorm for the convenience of being close to their morning lectures.

Last updated June 20, 2026