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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.
The Wieners hired a restoration company that cleaned and refinished their bookshelves. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Dec. 2025 Add two of the larger candles to your mantel, then use the medium and small candles for a flickering touch on coffee tables, bookshelves, dining tables, and more. Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025 The bookshelf also features an LED screen that displays excerpts and quotes from the books while speakers play an audio recording of Devlin reading the words that appear on-screen. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025 Mine was a tango, a commedia dell’arte pantomime that carried us to that second-place trophy sitting on my bookshelf. Betty Fussell, PEOPLE, 1 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 7 Dec. 2025.

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