Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense dwells, present participle dwelling, past tense, past participle dwelt, past tense, past participle dwelled
1. verb
If you dwellon something, especially something unpleasant, you think, speak, or write about it a lot or for quite a long time.
I'd rather not dwell on the past. [VERB + on/upon]
2. verb
If you dwell somewhere, you live there.
[formal]
They are concerned for the fate of the forest and the Indians who dwell in it. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Shiva is a dark god; he dwells in the mountains and deserts. [VERB preposition/adverb]
3. See also dwelling
More Synonyms of dwell
dwell in British English
(dwɛl)
verbWord forms: dwells, dwelling, dwelt (dwɛlt) or dwelled(intransitive)
1. formal, literary
to live as a permanent resident
2.
to live (in a specified state)
to dwell in poverty
noun
3.
a regular pause in the operation of a machine
4.
a flat or constant-radius portion on a linear or rotary cam enabling the cam follower to remain static for a brief time
Derived forms
dweller (ˈdweller)
noun
Word origin
Old English dwellan to seduce, get lost; related to Old Saxon bidwellian to prevent, Old Norse dvelja, Old High German twellen to prevent
dwell in American English
(dwɛl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: dwelt or dwelled, ˈdwelling
to make one's home; reside; live
Idioms:
dwell on
Derived forms
dweller (ˈdweller)
noun
Word origin
ME dwellen < OE dwellan, to lead astray, hinder, akin to ON dvelja, to delay < IE *dh(e)wel-, to obscure, make dull
Examples of 'dwell' in a sentence
dwell
Yet his determination not to dwell on the past is a key part of his rehabilitation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You can be really upset and dwell on something or you can put all the good memories in one song.
The Sun (2017)
I can't dwell on the past.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He's too selfdeprecating to dwell on the fact that his success has been hard-won.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Millennials would rather dwell on strengths and opportunities.
Christianity Today (2000)
Surely we could dwell a little longer.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We dwell on the past and worry about the future.
The Sun (2011)
We were offered little support and he dwells on things.
The Sun (2015)
Why dwell on something that makes you unhappy?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is no time to dwell on it.
The Sun (2009)
She had not dwelt upon the fact that she had no other real refuge on earth.
Frances Hodgson Burnett Emily Fox-Seton (1901)
He does not dwell long on his most famous son.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The last thing you want to do is to dwell on your past.
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
Something to dwell on for the one in four passengers whose flights were delayed last year.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is a waste of time to dwell on it.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVE THINKING: Everything you have always known about positive thinking but wereafraid to put into practice (2001)
And not dwell too long on the duff stuff.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Not that she dwells on the past.
The Sun (2013)
But we won't dwell on that.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
When life is not going to plan, look for solutions rather than dwell on problems.
The Sun (2014)
It's not something to dwell on.
The Sun (2010)
Invisible from the road, its hills and woods and ponds are overlooked by a big house in which dwells a princess.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I won't dwell too much on the gameplay.
The Sun (2014)
I won't dwell on it with the players.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He does not simply say that we are mortal; he dwells on that fact, emphasizes it.
Marcus J. Borg READING THE BIBLE AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME: Taking the Bible Seriously but Not Literally. (2001)
In other languages
dwell
British English: dwell VERB
If you dwell on something, especially something unpleasant, you think, speak, or write about it a lot or for quite a long time.
I'd rather not dwell on the past.
American English: dwell
Brazilian Portuguese: remoer
Chinese: 细想
European Spanish: vivir
French: revenir
German: verweilen bei
Italian: soffermarsi
Japanese: くよくよ考える
Korean: 연연하다
European Portuguese: remoer
Latin American Spanish: vivir
Chinese translation of 'dwell'
dwell
(dwɛl)
Word forms:ptppdwelt (dwɛlt)
vi
(frm) 住 (zhù)
(verb)
Definition
to live as a permanent resident
(formal, literary)
He dwells in the mountains.
Synonyms
live
She has lived here for 10 years.
stay
Hundreds of people defied army orders to stay at home.