# dorm

/ˈdɔɹm/ (US) · /dˈɔːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dorm
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. student housing

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal · American English

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

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

- I lived in a small dorm during my first year of university.
- The university recently renovated the oldest dorm on campus to include modern study lounges and high-speed internet access for all residents.

### 2. shared bedroom

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

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

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

- The hostel has a ten-bed dorm which is much cheaper than a private room.
- Backpackers often choose to stay in a shared dorm to save money and meet other travellers from around the world.

### 3. to live in a dorm

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

to live or stay in a student residence building.

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

- Most freshmen are required to dorm on campus for at least two semesters.
- While many students prefer to rent apartments in the city, some choose to dorm for the convenience of being close to their morning lectures.

## Examples

- I live in a small dorm on the university campus.
- Living in a dorm during your first year is a great way to meet other students and make friends.
- While the modern dorm offers more privacy than the communal halls of the past, many students still find the shared kitchens and study areas essential for building a social network.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.