dwelling

1 of 2

noun

dwell·​ing ˈdwe-liŋ How to pronounce dwelling (audio)
Synonyms of dwelling
: a shelter (such as a house) in which people live

dwelling

2 of 2

present participle of dwell

Synonyms of dwelling

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Noun

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Examples of dwelling in a Sentence

Noun the simple dwellings in which the Pilgrims spent the first winter at Plymouth
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Noun
Deeper into the dwelling, a living area boasts a fireplace and a wet bar. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026 Hobart homeowners who apply for the $500 tax credit must be 65 years of age or older and have a homestead exemption on their dwelling. — Jim Masters, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026 President Theodore Roosevelt gave the brownstone and brick dwelling to his daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, as a wedding present in 1906. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2026 By 2024, RealPage controlled roughly 80 percent of the real estate revenue management market for multifamily dwellings and held the keys to datasets from approximately sixteen million rental units nationwide. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dwelling

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see dwell

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dwelling was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing dwelling

Rhymes for dwelling

See All Rhymes for dwelling

Browse Nearby Words

dweller
dwelling
dwelling house
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dwelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dwelling. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dwelling

noun
dwell·​ing
ˈdwel-iŋ
: a shelter in which people live : house

Legal Definition

dwelling

noun
dwell·​ing
: a structure where a person lives and especially sleeps

called also dwelling house

see also burglary

Note: Courts disagree as to how permanent or consistent the habitation of a structure must be in order for it to be considered a dwelling, but most courts agree that a dwelling includes its curtilage.

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