dwell (redirected from dwelt)

*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

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.

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.

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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.