# dwelling

/ˈdwɛɫɪŋ/ (US) · /dwˈɛlɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a place to live

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a house, apartment, or other place where a person lives.

For teachers: a building or place of shelter in which people live; a formal synonym for home or residence.

- The old stone dwelling stood alone on the side of the hill.
- The local council is responsible for ensuring that every dwelling in the district meets modern safety and insulation standards.

Usage: Often used in legal, architectural, or official contexts rather than casual conversation.

### 3. living in a place

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

the act of living in a specific place.

For teachers: the state of residing or inhabiting a particular location.

- The story tells of strange creatures dwelling deep inside the forest.
- The documentary explores the unique challenges faced by communities dwelling in the high-altitude regions of the Andes.

## Examples

- The old dwelling stood at the edge of the forest.
- The city council is planning to build several new multi-family dwellings to address the housing shortage.
- Archaeologists discovered the remains of a prehistoric dwelling, providing valuable insight into how early humans constructed permanent shelters from local stone and timber.

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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.