# house

/ˈhaʊs/ (US) · CEFR A1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/house
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a building where people live, usually for one family. You use this word for the physical structure rather than the feeling of being at home.

For teachers: a building that serves as a living space for one or more families. Often used to distinguish a detached or semi-detached structure from an apartment or flat.

## Examples

- They are building a new house on our street.
- After living in a small apartment for years, they finally saved enough money to buy a house with a garden.
- The architect designed the house to maximize natural light, using large glass panels that blur the boundary between the interior living space and the surrounding woodland.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am going to my house now." but "I am going home now." — Learners often use 'house' when they mean 'home' to describe their destination; 'home' is used as an adverb of direction without a preposition.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used with the verbs 'build', 'buy', or 'rent'; distinguished from 'home' which carries more emotional or personal significance.

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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.