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
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Guests enter a circular foyer lined with bookshelves and push past a heavy black curtain, stepping into a main room with high ceilings and a long, table-like bar. Jenna Thompson april 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026 The End Result From the moment the paint dried, this bookshelf looked like it was built with the house. Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026 Mix Materials On a coffee table or a bookshelf, a balance of materials is key to a successful vignette of items, says Berkus. Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026 The bookshelves in the room were a rich mix of cookbooks and psychology books. Wendy C. Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 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 25 Apr. 2026.

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