dwell
C1Formal or literary for 'to live'; slightly formal for 'to think about'.
Definition
Meaning
To live in a particular place; to reside.
To spend a period of time in a particular mental state, often on a particular thought, memory, or problem.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The physical sense of 'living somewhere' is somewhat formal and often implies a settled, long-term residence. The mental sense (dwell on/upon) is more common in modern use and often carries a negative connotation of thinking excessively about something unpleasant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or frequency. Both senses are used similarly in both dialects.
Connotations
The physical sense ('inhabit') sounds more formal/literary in everyday speech in both dialects; 'live' is the more common, neutral choice. The phrasal verb 'dwell on' is standard in both.
Frequency
The verb is moderately low frequency in both dialects, with the phrasal verb 'dwell on' being more common than the literal sense of 'to live'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SBJ] dwells [PP: in/on/upon] (literal)[SBJ] dwells on/upon [OBJ] (figurative)[SBJ] dwells [ADV]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dwell on the past”
- “let's not dwell on it”
- “dwell in the memory”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in formal contexts: 'We cannot dwell on past mistakes; we must focus on future strategy.'
Academic
Used in literature/history for 'inhabit' and in psychology/philosophy for extended mental focus. E.g., 'The study dwells on the socio-economic implications.'
Everyday
Mostly used in the phrasal verb 'dwell on': 'Don't dwell on what he said; it's not worth it.' The literal sense sounds poetic or old-fashioned.
Technical
In engineering/computing, can refer to a piston's pause at top/bottom dead centre or a programmed pause in a machining cycle.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- For years, they chose to dwell in a remote cottage in the Highlands.
- It's unhealthy to dwell on such minor criticisms.
- The memory of that day still dwells in my mind.
American English
- The species is known to dwell in caves along the river basin.
- You shouldn't dwell on the details; see the bigger picture.
- He tends to dwell upon his regrets.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form derived from 'dwell').
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form derived from 'dwell').
adjective
British English
- N/A (The adjective form 'dwelling' is attributive only, as in 'dwelling place').
American English
- N/A (The adjective form 'dwelling' is attributive only, as in 'dwelling house').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Many animals dwell in the forest.
- Don't dwell on your mistake.
- The family has dwelled in this town for generations.
- She dwells too much on problems at work.
- The novel's protagonist dwells in self-imposed isolation.
- The report dwells at length on the causes of the economic downturn.
- Scholars have long dwelt on the philosophical implications of his later works.
- The artist's style dwells in the ambiguous space between abstraction and representation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a WELL in a small village. The people who DWELL there must come to the WELL every day. DWELL at the WELL.
Conceptual Metaphor
THOUGHT IS A DWELLING PLACE (to dwell on a thought = to mentally 'live' inside that thought). TIME/ATTENTION IS A LOCATION (to spend time 'in' a thought).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'жить' in most casual contexts. Use 'жить' for 'to live'. 'Dwell' is closer to 'обитать', 'проживать', or the phrase 'зацикливаться на чём-то' for 'dwell on'.
- Avoid literal translation of 'dwell in memories' as 'жить в воспоминаниях'. Use 'оставаться в памяти'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dwell' as a common synonym for 'live' in casual conversation (e.g., 'I dwell in London' sounds odd).
- Incorrect preposition: 'dwell about' (correct: 'dwell on/upon').
- Confusing the noun 'dwelling' (a house) with the verb form.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is the word 'dwell' used in its MOST COMMON contemporary sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, in modern English it is quite formal or literary. The neutral, everyday word is 'live' (e.g., 'I live in Berlin'). 'Dwell' might be used in official contexts, literature, or historical descriptions.
It means to think, speak, or write at length about something, especially something negative or problematic (e.g., 'to dwell on a past failure', 'the article dwells on the difficulties').
Both 'dwelled' and 'dwelt' are accepted past tense and past participle forms. 'Dwelt' is more common, especially in British English, and often carries a more literary feel.
'Reside' is formal/legal for 'live'. 'Inhabit' means to live in or occupy a place, often used for animals, populations, or in ecological contexts. 'Dwell' is the most literary/formal of the three for human habitation and has the unique figurative use with 'on'.