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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Fresh from her term as the National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature, award-winning author Meg Medina returns to middle grade readers’ bookshelves this month with a magical new novel. Caroline Carlson june 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 2025 The rows of tables flanked by bookshelves and old map cabinets offer a refuge from the grind of daily life in the city outside, which faces high unemployment, decaying infrastructure, and chronic water and power outages. Louise Dewast, Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2025 Photo : Simon Berlyn A bar nook filters into a cozy fireside library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 20 June 2025 Turn it into an indoor bookshelf, a bar cart, a grill prep station, or extra kitchen storage like one customer did. Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 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 8 Jul. 2025.

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