# dwell

/ˈdwɛɫ/ (US) · /dwˈɛl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to think too much about

verb · CEFR B2

to keep thinking or talking about something for a long time, especially something bad or sad.

For teachers: to linger on a particular thought, idea, or past event, typically with obsessive or regretful focus. Intransitive, usually taking the preposition 'on'.

- It is not healthy to dwell on your past mistakes for too long.
- The speaker chose not to dwell on the recent budget cuts, focusing instead on the ambitious expansion plans for the coming fiscal year.

### 2. to live somewhere

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to live in a specified place.

For teachers: to reside or have one's habitation in a particular location. Intransitive; often followed by a prepositional phrase of place.

- The old stories tell of strange creatures that dwell deep in the forest.
- In his later poetry, he often wrote of the spirits that supposedly dwell within the rugged peaks of his homeland.

### 3. a mechanical pause

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a short pause in the movement of a machine to let a task finish.

For teachers: a deliberate, timed pause in the motion of a mechanical part or a control sequence to allow for a specific operation. Often used as a modifier in technical compounds.

- The machine has a two-second dwell to let the glue dry before the next step.
- Adjusting the dwell time on the assembly line ensured that the robotic arm had sufficient clearance before the conveyor resumed its cycle.

### 4. engine ignition timing

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the time that electrical points stay closed in an engine to build up power for a spark.

For teachers: the period or angle during which the ignition contact breaker points remain closed to allow current to flow through the primary coil.

- If the dwell is not set correctly, the car engine might not start easily.
- The mechanic used a specialized meter to verify that the dwell angle was within the manufacturer's specifications for a four-cylinder engine.

## Examples

- I try not to dwell on my past mistakes.
- The author chose to dwell in a remote cottage while finishing her latest novel.
- While it is necessary to analyze the failure of the project, we must not dwell on the disappointment so long that we lose the momentum required for our next venture.

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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.