English Reference

Word

housing

Phoneticshous·ing, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈhaʊzɪŋ/

UK/hˈaʊzɪŋ/

Definitions

01homes and buildings

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. buildings or apartments where people live, looked at as a group.

n. houses, apartments, or other shelters considered collectively. Uncountable in this collective sense.

“The city needs more affordable housing for young families moving to the area.”

“The government's new urban development initiative aims to address the chronic shortage of social housing in the metropolitan area.”

02mechanical cover

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technology Technical

n. a hard cover that protects a machine or a piece of equipment.

n. a sturdy case or enclosure designed to protect a mechanical part or electronic component.

“The metal housing of the motor was hot to the touch after an hour of use.”

“The waterproof housing allows the camera to function at depths of up to thirty metres without risking internal circuitry damage.”

03providing shelter

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Formal

n. the act of giving someone a place to live.

n. the provision of accommodation or the act of sheltering someone or something.

“The charity is responsible for the housing of refugees during the winter months.”

“The university assumes responsibility for the housing of all first-year international students within the campus residential halls.”

Antonyms

04living or storing

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. the action of providing a space for people to live or for things to be kept.

v. the present participle of 'house', referring to the act of providing space, shelter, or storage.

“They are housing the extra equipment in a temporary shed behind the office.”

“By housing the collection in a climate-controlled environment, the museum ensures the long-term preservation of the delicate parchment manuscripts.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “housing” in context.

Verb

01. address the housing crisis

“The new mayor promised to address the housing crisis within her first hundred days in office.”

verb + adj + noun

Adjective

02. affordable housing

“The city council is planning to build more affordable housing for low-income families.”

adj + noun

03. social housing

“Many residents in this area rely on social housing provided by the local government.”

adj + noun

Noun

04. housing shortage

“The university is struggling to cope with a severe student housing shortage this semester.”

noun + noun

05. housing market

“High interest rates have caused a significant slowdown in the national housing market.”

noun + noun

06. housing secretary

07. housing crisis

08. housing costs

09. housing developments

10. housing association

11. housing benefit

12. housing development

Real-World Examples

“He said these stats were a “tiny step” in the right direction to make Australia’s housing market more equal.”
The Guardian 14 Aug 2026
“The area was familiar: the housing complex where he grew up is nearby.”
UN News 13 Aug 2026
“It’s also the case that housing is more expensive to provide in middle-class areas.”
The Guardian 13 Aug 2026
“He describes early years in social housing, when his mother delivered the Yellow Pages for extra cash.”
The Guardian 9 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English housynge, housinge, from housen (“to house, shelter; receive into one's house”), equivalent to house + -ing. Cognate with Scots housing (“housing”), Old Frisian hūsinge (whence Saterland Frisian Huzenge); compare also Dutch huizing, behuizing (“housing”), Low German husing, hüsing (“housing”), German Behausung (“housing”), Swedish inhysing (“housing”).

From house + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

housing(B2)

Related words

Domains

ArchitectureNautical

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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