house
A1Neutral, used across all registers from everyday speech to formal contexts, with certain technical meanings in specific fields (e.g., 'House of Commons', 'publishing house').
Definition
Meaning
A building for human habitation, especially one that is a permanent structure serving as a dwelling for an individual, family, or household.
Any building or structure serving a particular purpose; a family or lineage; a legislative or deliberative assembly; a business firm or institution; the audience in a theatre; a style of electronic music.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The concept extends from a physical structure to the social unit within it (the family) and to institutions modelled on that unit. As a verb, it means 'to provide with shelter or living space', or 'to contain or accommodate'. The plural 'houses' is pronounced /ˈhaʊzɪz/.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'house' more strictly refers to a detached or semi-detached dwelling; a flat/apartment is not a house. In US English, 'house' can be used more broadly for any dwelling. The term 'row house' is common in US; 'terraced house' is the UK equivalent.
Connotations
Similar core connotations of home, family, and privacy. In institutional names, 'House' is used similarly (e.g., 'House of Lords', 'House of Representatives').
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties with negligible difference.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NP ___ NP (to house someone/something)NP ___ (The building houses a museum.)BE ___ed in NP (The collection is housed in the library.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bring the house down”
- “get on like a house on fire”
- “a house of cards”
- “eat someone out of house and home”
- “put one's house in order”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a company or firm, e.g., 'an investment house', 'the house brand'.
Academic
Refers to a dynasty or lineage in history, or a legislative body in political science.
Everyday
Primarily refers to one's home or a residential building.
Technical
In theatre, refers to the audience or the auditorium ('the house was full'). In music, denotes a genre ('house music').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new museum will house the ancient artefacts.
- The development can house up to 500 families.
American English
- The garage is large enough to house two trucks.
- The stadium houses the team's Hall of Fame.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'At home' or 'indoors' are used instead.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'At home' or 'indoors' are used instead.)
adjective
British English
- We need more house plants for the lounge.
- She's very house proud.
American English
- He's our new house manager.
- The house salad is very fresh.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I live in a small house.
- There is a garden behind my house.
- The cat is in the house.
- We're planning to move house next spring.
- The house at the end of the street is for sale.
- They are having a house party on Saturday.
- The government's policy is a house of cards built on flawed assumptions.
- The library houses a unique collection of medieval manuscripts.
- As a publisher, they are one of the most respected houses in the industry.
- The opera singer's performance brought the house down on opening night.
- The ancient lineage could trace its house back to the Norman conquest.
- The debate centred on the powers of the upper house of the legislature.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MOUSE in a HOUSE. Both words rhyme and share the 'ouse' spelling pattern.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOUSE AS A CONTAINER (for people, activities, institutions); HOUSE AS A PERSON (e.g., 'The house welcomes you...'); INSTITUTIONS ARE HOUSES (e.g., publishing house, house of worship).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'house' for a multi-story apartment building; use 'apartment block' or 'block of flats'.
- Remember the pronunciation difference between noun (/haʊs/) and verb (/haʊz/).
- The Russian word 'хаус' typically refers only to the music genre.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural pronunciation: saying /ˈhaʊsɪz/ instead of /ˈhaʊzɪz/.
- Using 'house' as a countable noun with inappropriate determiners, e.g., 'I go to house' instead of 'I go home/to the house'.
- Confusing 'house' and 'home' in emotional contexts; 'home' has a stronger affective meaning.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'house' NOT refer to a building for living in?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'House' refers primarily to the physical building. 'Home' has a stronger emotional connotation, referring to the place where one lives, often with a sense of belonging, comfort, and family.
This is a common pattern in English where the voiced consonant /z/ (or /d/, /g/, etc.) marks the verb form, and the unvoiced counterpart (/s/, /t/, /k/) marks the noun (e.g., house/house, advice/advise, bath/bathe).
Typically no. A house is usually a standalone or semi-detached building. An apartment/flat is a unit within a larger building. In casual US English, someone might say 'my house' even if they live in an apartment, but technically it's not accurate.
It is an idiom meaning that something (usually food or drink) is provided free of charge by the establishment (e.g., a bar, restaurant).
Collections
Part of a collection
Family Members
A1 · 44 words · Words for family, people and relationships at home.
Places in the City
A1 · 50 words · Common buildings and places found in towns and cities.