bookshelf

noun

book·​shelf ˈbu̇k-ˌshelf How to pronounce bookshelf (audio)
: an open shelf for holding books

Examples of bookshelf in a Sentence

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.
Raising Hare is my favorite read of 2025 and has sat front-facing on my bookshelf all year. Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025 The curvilinear library, meanwhile, features floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined in rattan, or thin stems of a palm. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2025 Console tables, buffets, and bookshelves are all excellent alternative options. Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025 Solve that issue this holiday season by gifting them floating bookshelves to store their novels. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bookshelf

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bookshelf was in 1648

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Cite this Entry

“Bookshelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookshelf. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.

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