Dwell — Meaning, Definition & Examples

Definition

1. To live somewhere (literary/formal).
2. “dwell on/upon” — keep thinking or talking about something, especially something bad or unpleasant.

Context Alive

After the embarrassing mistake at work, she couldn’t stop dwelling on what had happened, replaying the moment over and over in her mind instead of accepting it and moving forward. Her friends kept telling her to let it go, but the memory just wouldn’t leave her alone.

Meanings

2 meanings

1 To Live Somewhere (Verb — Literary/Formal) — LESS COMMON Common ▼

This meaning is about residing or living in a place, but it sounds old-fashioned or poetic. Imagine reading a fantasy novel where mysterious creatures dwell deep in the forest, hidden from human eyes for centuries. This is dwelling — living somewhere. You might read that monks dwell in mountain monasteries, or a poem could describe spirits that dwell in ancient ruins. Or picture a story about people who dwell by the sea. The word carries a literary, almost magical feeling.

Vivid Example

According to local legend, a mysterious old woman dwells alone in the cottage at the edge of the woods, rarely seen by villagers except on the coldest winter nights.

2 Keep Thinking About Something Negative — 'Dwell On/Upon' (Phrasal Verb) — COMMON Common ▼

This meaning is about focusing too much on something unpleasant. Imagine a friend who keeps dwelling on a breakup from two years ago, unable to move past it despite everyone’s advice. This is dwelling on something — thinking about it too much. You might tell someone not to dwell on their mistakes, or a therapist could help patients stop dwelling on the past. Or picture someone who dwells on every criticism they receive. The word suggests unhealthy mental focus. People often advise “don’t dwell on it” when someone is overthinking a problem, mistake, or negative event. The implication is that thinking about it more won’t help — it’s time to let go and move forward. Dwelling prevents you from taking action or finding peace.

Vivid Example

“There’s no point dwelling on what went wrong,” her coach said firmly, encouraging her to focus on the next match instead of replaying yesterday’s defeat in her head.

Examples from the Street

“Don’t dwell on the past — focus on the future.”

Don’t keep thinking about what’s already happened — concentrate on what’s ahead

“She tends to dwell on her mistakes instead of learning from them.”

She tends to think repeatedly about her errors instead of gaining wisdom from them

“They dwell in a remote village in the mountains.”

They live in an isolated settlement in the highlands (formal/literary)

Common Patterns

dwell on the past → keep thinking about previous events

dwell on mistakes/failures → repeatedly think about errors

dwell on the negative → focus excessively on bad aspects

dwell on something too long/much → spend excessive time thinking about something

don’t dwell on it → stop overthinking it

dwell in [place] → live in a location

dwell among [people] → live alongside others

where someone dwells → where someone lives

dwelling → a place where someone lives (formal)

dweller → a person who lives somewhere (city dweller, cave dweller)

Collocations

3 collocations

dwell on the past

keep thinking about things that already happened

don't dwell on it

stop worrying about something you can't change

dwell on the negative

focus too much on bad things

Example Sentences

12 examples

1

Try not to dwell on what went wrong — focus on how to fix it

Try not to keep thinking about what failed — concentrate on how to put it right.

2

She has a tendency to dwell on the negative rather than celebrate her successes

She has a habit of focusing on bad things rather than rejoicing in her achievements.

3

I don’t want to dwell on this too long, but we need to address the issue

I don’t want to spend excessive time on this, but we must tackle the matter.

4

The poet wrote about creatures that dwell in the deep ocean

The verse writer composed pieces about beings that live in the waters far below the surface.

5

He dwells on every criticism he receives, unable to let things go

He repeatedly thinks about every negative comment he gets, unable to move past things.

6

Ancient tribes dwelt in these caves thousands of years ago

Early human groups lived in these rocky hollows millennia ago.

7

Don’t dwell on it — everyone makes mistakes sometimes

Stop overthinking it — everybody makes errors from time to time.

8

The documentary dwells at length on the human cost of the disaster

The film spends considerable time focusing on the personal toll of the catastrophe.

9

City dwellers often dream of escaping to the countryside

Urban residents frequently fantasise about moving to rural areas.

10

The report dwells on the problems without offering any solutions

The document focuses extensively on the difficulties without suggesting any answers.

Learner Examples

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Students who dwell on their mistakes often develop anxiety about speaking, so teachers should encourage a growth mindset

Learners who keep thinking about their errors frequently become nervous about talking, so instructors should promote a positive attitude towards improvement.

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Don’t dwell on words you don’t understand while reading — use context clues and keep moving forward

Don’t spend too much time worrying about terms you can’t grasp while going through texts — use surrounding hints and continue progressing.