to dwell

Examples

• All

• And I think that it's sort of wasting time to constantly dwell in the past and dwell in things that we could have done.

• Still, I wasn't going to dwell on the negatives.

  Bridget Jones's Baby (2016)

• So try not to dwell on it too much.

  Acts of Revenge (2020)

• But she does not wish to dwell on what other people may have said about her.

  Fiction book (1996)

• Do you dwell on your past mistakes?

  Darkside (2022)

• But this is an inappropriate time to dwell on that.

  Fool's Gold (2008)

• Now, it's worth dwelling on that for just a moment.

• Let us not dwell on that unpleasantness.

  Chevalier (2023)

• Next time you look into a mirror, don't dwell on the negative.

  Academic text (1997)

• It's easy to dwell on your failures instead of focusing on future opportunities.

Synonyms

C

to contemplate

vsto dwell

186 4.8

To think deeply about something for a long time

centers on worry or sadness rather than neutral careful consideration

P

to ponder

vsto dwell

134 4.3

Think carefully for a long time about something

leans toward worrying or sad thinking rather than neutral consideration

D

to dwell on

vsto dwell

53 5.2

To think or talk a lot about something upsetting

focuses more on worry or sadness than on talking or length

W

to wallow in

vsto dwell

28 7.4

To spend a lot of time feeling sorry for yourself and not trying to change

involves thinking or speaking about worries rather than indulging in emotion

B

to brood

vsto dwell

28 6.1

To think about something in a sad, worried way

also includes talking about concerns rather than mainly silent thinking

R

to ruminate

vsto dwell

10 7.6

To think carefully about something for a long time

often involves worry or sadness rather than neutral careful thought

L

to linger on

vsto dwell

8 4.5

Spend too much time thinking or talking about something

is used more for worrying or sadness rather than unnecessary duration

B

to brood over

vsto dwell

3 6.7

Think about something in a worried way for a long time

is used for thinking or talking about worry or sadness in general

Antonyms

I

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

D

to dismiss

332 3.0

To refuse to accept an idea or claim

Phrasal Verbs

D

to dwell on

53 5.2

To think or talk a lot about something upsetting

How Much

to obsess

304 5.5

to brood

28 6.1

to dwell

68 4.7

to mull over

19 4.0

to think about

∞ 1.0

to mention

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology