The verb to dwell · Conjugation
Past Simple of dwell
The answer: dwelt (UK) / dwelled (US)
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to dwell is dwelt (UK) / dwelled (US).
Example: She dwelt on her mistakes for weeks.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | dwelt / dwelled |
| You | dwelt / dwelled |
| He / She / It | dwelt / dwelled |
| We | dwelt / dwelled |
| You (pl.) | dwelt / dwelled |
| They | dwelt / dwelled |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Dwelt (UK) / dwelled (US)
Dwell has two past forms: dwelt in British English and dwelled in American English.
2. I dwell in a flat ❌
Dwell is literary and formal. In everyday English, say I live in a flat.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of dwell?+
The Past Simple of dwell is dwelt (UK) or dwelled (US). It is one of the verbs with two past forms.
What does dwell on something mean?+
Dwell on something = to think about it for too long. Don't dwell on the past means stop thinking about what happened before.
Is it dwell or live?+
Live = the everyday word. Dwell = formal and literary (poems, old stories, religious texts). When you speak, always use live.
What is a dwelling?+
A dwelling = a house or a flat, in formal or legal English. It is an official word.
What is a dweller?+
A city dweller = a person who lives in a city. A cave dweller = a person who lives in a cave. The ending -er means a person.
Related pages: dwell Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/dwell/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to dwell are coming soon.