plural shelters
1
a
: something that covers or affords protection
a bomb shelter
We made a shelter from branches.
see also fallout shelter, tax shelter
b
: an establishment providing food, protection, and temporary housing for people who need assistance
a shelter for battered women
shelters for the unhoused
c
: an establishment that houses and feeds stray or unwanted animals
a no-kill shelter
2
: a position or the state of being covered and protected (as from bad weather or danger)
We ran for shelter when the rain started.
The hikers took shelter in an abandoned cabin.
sheltered; sheltering
ˈshel-t(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to constitute or provide a shelter for : protect
has led a sheltered life
2
: to place under shelter or protection
sheltered himself in a mountain cave
3
: to protect (income) from taxation
: to take shelter
Examples of shelter in a Sentence
Noun
We made a shelter from branches.
a shelter for battered women
The organization provides food and shelter for homeless people.
The crowd ran for shelter when the rain started.
They sought shelter from the storm.
Verb
A cave sheltered the climbers during the storm.
They sheltered in a cave while they waited for the storm to pass.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amanda Rosa
april 9, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
For hours before the rescue mission, A-10s and B-1 bombers had been pounding Iranian targets, including one bunker with 50 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders in it, and another bunker sheltering an IRGC commander, the sources said.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shelter
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Noun
Polly was never adopted and spent the rest of her days in the shelter’s front office.
—Amanda Rosa
april 9, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
The site will shelter up to 275 people in sleeping cabins and in their vehicles, and provide weather respite for 75, in North Highlands.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
For hours before the rescue mission, A-10s and B-1 bombers had been pounding Iranian targets, including one bunker with 50 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders in it, and another bunker sheltering an IRGC commander, the sources said.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shelter
Cite this Entry
“Shelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelter. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shelter
1 of 2 noun
shel·ter
ˈshel-tər
1
a
: something that covers or protects
an air raid shelter
a fallout shelter
b
: a place that provides food and lodging (as to the homeless)
c
: a place that houses and feeds stray or unwanted animals
2
: the state of being protected
take shelter from a storm
shelter
2 of 2 verb
sheltered; sheltering
-t(ə-)riŋ
1
: to be a shelter for : provide with shelter
2
: to find and use a shelter
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