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.
Launching the plan means the district spending money on training for teachers and materials like play kitchens, bookshelves, blocks and easels. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026 The series is based on Carley Fortune's bestselling novel, Every Summer After, which hit bookshelves in July 2022. Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026 The documents weigh 17,000 pounds and span 574 feet across 20 bookshelves. Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2026 The Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 is the name given to a pair of state-of-the-art Bluetooth bookshelf speakers that make your humble superstore own brand setup seem like a prehistoric ear trumpet. New Atlas, 8 June 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 16 Jun. 2026.

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