: 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.
Souvenirs from a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, family heirlooms, or tchotchkes from friends usually end up tucked away in boxes and drawers or getting lost on busy bookshelves. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2026 Davis loved to read and collect books, devouring anything from John Updike and Margaret Atwood, among other authors, a passion that necessitated having bookshelves in every room of his home. Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Organizers say the impact of the project goes far beyond bookshelves. Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 The space feels more like a clubhouse than a hotel restaurant with bookshelves lined with seafaring tomes and photography books of Orange County, except this club comes with unobstructed views of the beach and ocean. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026 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 18 Sep. 2026.

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