dwells

Makes a home

Dwells means lives or resides in a place: She dwells in a cottage by the sea.

The word sounds literary or old-fashioned compared to "lives." To dwell on something is to think or talk about it at length, often excessively: Don't dwell on past mistakes.

The noun dwelling is more common than the verb in modern usage.

inhabits

resides

Inhabits a dwelling

livesExists or resides
abidesTolerates or remains
occupiesFills or holds space

settles · inhabits · lodges · stays · roosts · nests · shelters · quarters · sojourns · encamps

lingers

remains

Continues in place

staysRemains in place
tarriesDelays by lingering
loitersRemains idly in place

hovers · abides · persists · continues · endures · waits · pauses · bides · prolongs · extends

contemplates

ponders

Reflects on deeply

reflectsReturns light or image
meditatesEngages in focused contemplation
ruminatesThinks deeply, repeatedly

muses · broods · contemplates · fixates · obsesses · mulls · focuses · concentrates · considers · thinks

Opposites

permanence of residence

dwellsroams

Travels without fixed course

wanders · nomadic · drifts · migrates · itinerant

presence vs. absence

dwellsdeparts

Goes away from

vacates · leaves · abandons · evacuates · flees

mental attention

dwellsignores

Refuses to acknowledge

dismisses · lets go · overlooks · disregards · moves on

Phrases

dwell onThink about excessively
forest dwellersBeings inhabiting wooded areas
cliff dwellingsHomes built into rockfaces
city dwellersPeople living in metropolises
cave dwellersThose residing in caverns
mountain dwellersResidents of elevated terrain

Family

dwell, dwelling, dwellers, dwellings, dwelt, dwelled, indwelling, dwelling-place, dwell upon

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G