What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dwell
Example
He dwells in a small apartment in the city. [dwell: verb]
Example
Don't dwell on your mistakes, learn from them and move on. [dwell: verb]
Example
The family has dwelled in this house for generations. [dwelled: past tense]
occupy
Example
The army will occupy the city until the conflict is resolved. [occupy: verb]
Example
Her new job occupies most of her time during the week. [occupies: present tense]
Example
The hotel room was occupied by a family of four. [occupied: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Occupy is more commonly used in everyday language than dwell. Occupy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dwell is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between dwell and occupy?
Dwell is typically associated with a more formal or literary tone, while occupy is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
