house

1 of 2

noun

plural houses ˈhau̇-zəz How to pronounce house (audio)
also
-səz How to pronounce house (audio)
1
: a building that serves as living quarters for one or a few families : home
invited them to her house for dinner
a two-family house
2
a(1)
: a shelter or refuge (such as a nest or den) of a wild animal
(2)
: a natural covering (such as a test or shell) that encloses and protects an animal or a colony of zooids
b
: a building in which something is sheltered or stored
a carriage house
3
a
astrology : one of the 12 equal sectors (see sector entry 1 sense 1a) in which the celestial sphere is divided
b
astrology : a sign of the zodiac that is the seat of a planet's greatest influence
the house occupied by Jupiter
4
a
: household
woke up the whole house
b
: a family including ancestors, descendants, and kindred
the house of Tudor
5
a
: a residence for a religious community or for students
a fraternity house
b
: the community or students living in such a residence
6
a
government : a legislative, deliberative, or consultative assembly
especially : one constituting a division of a bicameral body
a bill approved by both houses of Congress
often used in capitalized form as the shortened name of a specific house
The bill passed in both the House and the Senate.
MPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Government's Brexit Bill in the House of Commons. … The House voted in favour of the bill by 498 to 114 … Chloe Chaplain
b
: the building or chamber where such an assembly meets
c
: a quorum of such an assembly
7
a
: a building or part of a building where people gather for a specified kind of activity
a movie house
the local coffee house
a house of worship/God [=a church, synagogue, mosque, etc.]
runs the restaurant's front of house [=dining area]
… can no longer require employees to share their tips with the back of house, such as cooks and dishwashers …Melanie Sevcenko
a house cocktail [=a cocktail whose recipe was created by the bar, restaurant, etc. at which it is served]
Save room for a soufflé, the century-long house specialtyThomas P. Farley
b(1)
: a business organization
a publishing house
(2)
: a gambling establishment
c
: the audience in a theater or concert hall
a full house on opening night
8
curling : the circular area 12 feet in diameter surrounding the tee and within which a curling stone must rest in order to count
9
[from The Warehouse, Chicago dance club that pioneered the style] : a type of dance music mixed by a disc jockey that features overdubbing with a heavy repetitive drumbeat and repeated electronic melody lines
houseful noun
houseless adjective
houselessness noun

house

2 of 2

verb

housed; housing; houses

transitive verb

1
a
: to provide with living quarters or shelter
a place to house their guests
b
: to store in a building
the barn where they house their boat
2
: to encase, enclose, or shelter as if by putting in a house (see house entry 1)
… so timorous a soul housed in so impressive a body.A. W. Long
3
: to serve as a shelter or container for : contain
buildings that house government offices

intransitive verb

: to take shelter : lodge
Phrases
on the house
: without charge : free

Examples of house in a Sentence

Noun Would you like to come to my house for dinner? I spent the weekend just puttering around the house. He made enough noise to wake the whole house. Verb More prisons are needed to house the growing number of inmates. The museum houses an impressive collection of jewels. The carpenter built casing to house the hot water pipes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Kidman has a close relationship with Balenciaga, having been named a brand ambassador for the fashion house late last year, joining Isabelle Huppert, Michelle Yeoh and Kim Kardashian. Hannah Malach, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024 In 1974, Congress agreed to refurbish the Naval Observatory house as the vice president's home. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
The public safety building will house both Lake Travis Fire Rescue, also known as ESD No. 6, and the Bee Cave Police Department, which is currently housed in the old City Hall. Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024 The new 12,345-square-foot brewpub, co-owned by Dennis Kramer-Wine and Alexandra Nowell, will house a restaurant on the main floor. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for house 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English hous, from Old English hūs; akin to Old High German hūs house

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of house was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near house

Cite this Entry

“House.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/house. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

house

1 of 2 noun
plural houses ˈhau̇-zəz How to pronounce house (audio)
1
: a building in which one or more families live
2
a
: something (as a nest or den) used by an animal for shelter
b
: a building in which something is stored
carriage house
3
a
: one of the 12 equal sections into which the celestial sphere is divided in astrology
b
: a sign of the zodiac that is the seat of a planet's greatest influence
4
b
: family sense 2
especially : a royal or noble family
5
: a residence for a religious community or for students
6
: a body of persons assembled to make and discuss laws
7
a
: a place of business or entertainment
went to a movie house
b
: a business firm
a publishing house
c
: the audience in a theater or concert hall
played to a full house

house

2 of 2 verb
housed; housing
1
a
: to provide with living quarters or shelter
b
: to store in a house
2
: to encase or enclose as if by putting in a house
3
: to take shelter : lodge
Etymology

Noun

Old English hūs "house, home" — related to husband

Legal Definition

house

noun
1
a
: a building (as a single or multiple family house, apartment, or hotel room) serving as living quarters and usually including the curtilage
b
: a building (as one's residence or a locked place of business) in which one is entitled to protection (as from warrantless searches and seizures) under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
2
a
: a legislative assembly especially that constitutes a division of a bicameral body
b
: the building or chamber where such an assembly meets
c
: a quorum of such an assembly

Biographical Definition

House

biographical name

Edward Mandell 1858–1938 Colonel House American diplomat

More from Merriam-Webster on house

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!