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
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
This timing falls between the emergence of the latest generation and the reuse of a gallery as an overwintering shelter, so the tunnels should be vacant when sealed.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
The case stems from the September 2024 fire at the BioLab facility, which sent a large plume of smoke into the air, forced more than 17,000 people to evacuate and about 90,000 others to shelter in place, and disrupted nearby businesses and neighborhoods.
—Jamal Goss, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shelter
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Noun
Occupants of the shelter were to be moved to other shelters across the city in time for the center to be closed at the end of April, and the East Village site is slated to be opened May 1.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
This timing falls between the emergence of the latest generation and the reuse of a gallery as an overwintering shelter, so the tunnels should be vacant when sealed.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
The two journalists then sheltered in a house but were hit by Israeli fire once more, according to a statement from the Lebanese Health Ministry.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
The case stems from the September 2024 fire at the BioLab facility, which sent a large plume of smoke into the air, forced more than 17,000 people to evacuate and about 90,000 others to shelter in place, and disrupted nearby businesses and neighborhoods.
—Jamal Goss, CBS News, 21 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 23 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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