Word of the day: Dwell (verb)
Possible Meanings:
- To live or stay in a place for a significant amount of time. (Most common meaning)
- To think about something for a long time, often in a negative way. (Focuses on overthinking or dwelling on something negative)
Subscribe to our newsletter and we’ll deliver fresh vocabulary straight to your inbox!
Example Sentences:
- The nomadic tribe dwelt in temporary shelters as they traveled across the desert. (Explanation: Dwell describes their act of living in these shelters.)
- The old house had been dwelt in by generations of the same family. (Explanation: Here, dwell describes the long-term residence of multiple generations.)
- She tried not to dwell on her mistakes, focusing on how to improve in the future. (Explanation: Dwell describes the act of thinking too much about her past errors.)
- He spent hours dwelling on the negative comments he received online. (Explanation: Here, dwell describes the negative overthinking about the criticism.)
Conversation Example (Focusing on the overthinking meaning):
Person 1: “I keep replaying that awkward conversation in my head. How do I stop dwelling on it?”
Person 2: “It’s understandable. Try to distract yourself with a positive activity and remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes.”
Additional Notes:
- “Dwell” can also be used as a noun (less common), referring to a place where someone lives. (e.g., “Their humble dwelling was a small cabin in the woods.”)
- There’s a similar verb “dwell upon” which emphasizes focused and prolonged thought or consideration.
Can you use dwell in a sentence of your own? Share your example in the comments below.