1. Home
2. Idioms
3. dwell

dwell

---

---

dwell (up)on someone or something

to remain on the [important] subject of someone or something for a long time. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) I can't dwell upon this subject anymore. There is no need to dwell on Sarah further.

See also: dwell, on

dwell (up)on something

to live on something, such as the planet Earth. (Upon is more formal than on.) This is the largest turtle that dwells upon the earth. Many creatures dwell on this earth.

See also: dwell, on

*in an ivory tower

Fig. in a place, such as a university, where one can be aloof from the realities of living. (Typ—ically: be ~; dwell ~; live ~; work ~.) If you didn't spend so much time in your ivory tower, you'd know what people really think! Many professors are said to live in ivory towers. They don't know what the real world is like.

See also: ivory, tower

not dwell on something

to not spend a lot of time thinking or talking about something I knew how important this test was but I didn't want to dwell on it. My mother's advice always was, "Don't dwell on it, do something about it!"

Usage notes: also used without not: She dwells on the past a little too much.

See also: dwell, not, on

dwell on

Also, dwell upon. Linger over; ponder, speak or write at length. For example, Let's not dwell on this topic too long; we have a lot to cover today. [c. 1500]

See also: dwell, on

dwell on

v.

To think or talk about something to an excessive degree: The teacher dwelled on the subject of tardiness for several minutes.

See also: dwell, on