reside

reside — verb

1. to have your permanent home in a specific location, typically over many years —

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to have your permanent home in a specific location, typically over many years — a formal term often found in legal documents, official records, or written reports

Example

The Nakamura family has resided in this neighbourhood for over forty years.

reside in [place] + duration (for + time period)

Vivek and his wife currently reside in a small apartment near the train station.

Common collocations
  • reside permanently
  • reside abroad
  • reside in a city/neighbourhood/country
  • currently reside
  • reside at [address]
  • no longer reside
Synonyms
  • live

    the everyday, neutral alternative; 'reside' is more formal and less common in speech

  • dwell

    literary or old-fashioned; used in religious, poetic, or very formal writing

  • inhabit

    used for animals or groups of people living in a region, not for individuals

  • occupy

    emphasises taking physical possession of a space, e.g. a house or flat

Grammar Patterns

reside + in/at + [place]

Usage Note

Frequently used in formal, legal, or official writing. In everyday conversation, 'live' is the natural choice. 'Reside' is rarely used in progressive tenses ('is residing') — the simple form is preferred. Takes 'in' for a city, country, or neighbourhood, and 'at' for a specific address.

Common Mistakes

Where do you reside?' (to a friend).
Where do you live?
'Reside' sounds stiff and unnatural in casual conversation.
We are residing in a hotel for three nights.
We are staying in a hotel for three nights.
'Reside' implies a long-term or permanent home, not a short visit.
She resides in Taipei since 2015.
She has resided in Taipei since 2015.
'Since' requires the present perfect, not the simple present.
Phrasal verbs

reside in

phrasal verb

To live in a particular place.

The president resides in the White House.

Do you reside in this city or just visit?

reside with

phrasal verb

To belong to or be vested in someone, such as a right or responsibility.

The final decision resides with the board of directors.

Does the authority to hire reside with the manager?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Reside' is the most formal of the four, appearing in official documents, legal texts, and written reports. 'Live' is the all-purpose, neutral word for everyday speech — you live in a city, a house, or a country without sounding stiff. 'Dwell' carries a literary or poetic tone and is rarely used in conversation; you might encounter it in religious texts ('dwell in the house of the Lord') or old novels. 'Inhabit' typically refers to groups — animals, tribes, or populations occupying a region ('the island is inhabited by seabirds'). 'Occupy' focuses on physical possession of a building or space ('the family occupies the top floor'). For daily life, pick 'live'. For formal writing about where someone makes their home, choose 'reside'. For poetic or elevated contexts, 'dwell' can add a deliberate, timeless quality.

livedwellinhabit ↗occupy ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • reside in the area
  • reside on the premises
  • reside within the city limits

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

'Reside' comes from Latin 'residēre', meaning 'to remain behind' or 'to sit back'. This was formed from 're-' ('back') and 'sedēre' ('to sit'). The idea of 'sitting back' in a place gradually shifted to 'staying permanently', giving us the modern sense of making a home somewhere. The word entered English through Old French 'resider' in the 15th century.