house
house
Pronunciation
Syllable 1:
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative
/aʊ/ - diphthong, a combination of the open back unrounded vowel /a/ and the close back rounded vowel /ʊ/
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: house
Plural: houses
Verb:
Base form: house
Third-person singular present: houses
Present participle: housing
Past tense: housed
Past participle: housed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A building, typically a permanent one, designed and constructed for human habitation, providing shelter, privacy, and a designated space for daily living activities for an individual, family, or group.
Synonyms: home, dwelling, residence, abode, domicile, dwelling place
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "outdoors" or "wilderness" might be considered contextual opposites but not true antonyms for a building)
Definition: A particular family or lineage, especially one of high social standing or historical significance, often associated with a specific ancestral home or estate.
Synonyms: family, lineage, dynasty, clan, noble family
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Definition: A legislative or deliberative assembly, such as a parliament or congress, where laws are made or discussed.
Synonyms: chamber, legislature, parliament, assembly, congress
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Definition: A building or establishment dedicated to a particular purpose, business, or activity.
Synonyms: establishment, institution, firm, company, building
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Verb
Definition: To provide a place for someone or something to live, stay, or be stored; to shelter or accommodate.
Synonyms: accommodate, shelter, lodge, quarter, board, contain, store
Antonyms: evict, displace, remove, expel
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents, except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness." (Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist) - Here, "housetops" uses "house" as part of a compound noun referring to the roofs of buildings.
"The old woman lived in a small, dilapidated house at the edge of the woods, a place where time seemed to have forgotten." (From a hypothetical contemporary novel) - This is a very common use of "house" referring to a residential building.
Newspapers:
"The city council approved a new zoning ordinance that will allow for the construction of more affordable housing units, a move aimed at addressing the severe housing shortage." ("Local News Daily," July 3, 2025) - "Housing" is the present participle of the verb "to house," referring to the act of providing homes.
"The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the new budget bill next week." ("The National Gazette," July 4, 2025) - Here, "House" refers to a legislative body.
Online Publications:
"This minimalist tiny house proves that big living can come in small packages." (Architectural Digest Online) - "Tiny house" is a popular term for a small, often portable, dwelling.
"How to house your growing plant collection: tips for indoor gardeners." (Gardening Enthusiast Blog) - "House" is used as a verb meaning to provide a place for something, in this case, plants.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The haunted house trope has been a staple of horror cinema for decades, preying on our deepest fears of the unknown lurking within seemingly safe spaces." (From a film review on Rotten Tomatoes) - "Haunted house" is a common phrase referring to a house believed to be inhabited by ghosts.
Television Series: "In the latest episode, the detectives had to house a witness in a safe location after threats were made against their life." (Dialogue from a crime drama series, e.g., "Law & Order") - "House" is used as a verb meaning to provide shelter or accommodation.
Music: "Our house, in the middle of our street..." (Lyrics from the song "Our House" by Madness) - A colloquial and endearing use of "house" to refer to one's home.
Video Games: "Players must strategically build their house to defend against zombie hordes and other environmental threats." (Game description for a survival crafting game, e.g., Minecraft) - "House" here refers to a player-built structure for shelter and protection.
General Public Discourse:
"We're looking to buy a new house next year, something with a bigger yard for the kids." (Everyday conversation between friends) - A very common and direct use of "house" as a noun for a residential building.
"They've done an amazing job housing all the refugees displaced by the recent conflict." (News commentary or community discussion) - "Housing" (present participle of the verb) refers to the act of providing shelter for a large group of people.
"My friend started a small house-sitting business, looking after people's homes when they're on vacation." (Casual conversation) - "House-sitting" uses "house" as part of a compound word referring to the act of looking after a house.
"The new theatre is a full house tonight, every seat is taken." (A venue manager or attendee remarking on attendance) - "Full house" is an idiom meaning all tickets have been sold or all seats are occupied.
10 Famous Quotes Using House
"A man's house is his castle." (Sir Edward Coke, The Institutes of the Laws of England)
"The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates, often paraphrased from Plato's Apology - while not using "house," this is a famous quote about the internal "house" of the mind or self)
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." (Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken" - metaphorical, as taking a "road" can lead to a different "house" or outcome in life)
"Every man's house is his safest refuge." (Cicero, Letters to Atticus)
"Home is where the heart is." (Pliny the Elder, Natural History - while "home" is used, it is a close synonym for "house" in this context)
"He built his house upon the sand." (Matthew 7:26, The Bible)
"There's no place like home." (L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - again, "home" is a strong synonym for "house" in this beloved quote)
"My house is small, but the visitors are many." (African Proverb)
"The best house is the one that has been lived in." (Unknown)
"A house divided against itself cannot stand." (Abraham Lincoln, June 16, 1858, in his "House Divided" speech)
Etymology
The word "house" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back through the English language.
Imagine our very early ancestors needing a place to keep safe from the weather and dangers. The word "house" comes directly from the Old English word "hus." This "hus" meant a "dwelling," "shelter," or "home." It was essentially a place where people lived or where things were stored and protected.
If we go even further back in time, "hus" came from an even older language called Proto-Germanic, which linguists have reconstructed and refer to as "hūsan." This Proto-Germanic root also carried the meaning of a "shelter" or "dwelling."
Interestingly, the exact origin of this Proto-Germanic "hūsan" is not perfectly clear. Some experts think it might be connected to a very old root meaning "to cover" or "to hide," which makes a lot of sense if you think about a house as a place where you're covered and hidden from the elements.
So, in simple terms, the word "house" has always been about a place of shelter and living, going back to the earliest known forms of English and even older Germanic languages.
Phrases + Idioms Containing House
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "house":
A house of cards: A structure or plan that is very fragile and likely to collapse.
To bring the house down: To receive enthusiastic applause or laughter from an audience.
To set one's house in order: To organize one's affairs or put things right.
To be in the doghouse: To be in trouble or disgrace.
To eat someone out of house and home: To consume a great deal of someone's food and resources.
On the house: Provided free of charge by the establishment.
Full house: A situation (e.g., at a theater or game) where all seats are occupied or all possibilities are present.
House-proud: Very concerned with the appearance and cleanliness of one's home.
Housewarming party: A party to celebrate moving into a new home.
Like a house on fire: Very quickly and intensely; to get along extremely well with someone.
To keep a tidy house: To maintain an organized and clean home (can also refer metaphorically to one's affairs).
House arrest: Confinement to one's home as a punishment or security measure.
The house always wins: A phrase, particularly in gambling, indicating that the casino or establishment ultimately has the advantage.
House rules: Specific rules or customs governing behavior in a particular household or establishment.
House brand/label: A product sold under the name of the retailer rather than the manufacturer.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of house from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
