shelter in place
1 of 2phrase
: to remain inside in one's current location until a danger has passed : to temporarily take shelter in a protected space
The … campus was placed under lockdown in response to the shooting. People on campus were advised to shelter in place. No students were hurt or endangered, the school said.—
Julia Jacobo
Julia JacoboThese communities—including our own—need to start hardening themselves against future fires. That means preparing homes for fires the way we already do for earthquakes and floods. It also means developing better alert systems, heeding evacuation warnings when they come and being prepared to shelter in place when escape routes are cut off …—The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California)
The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California)
variants
or less commonly shelter in place
: instructing or requiring people to remain in their current location until a danger has passed
The governor has issued a shelter-in-place order.
: of or relating to sheltering in place
shelter-in-place drills
see also shelter in place at shelter entry 2
Examples of shelter in place in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Portions of the Pentagon had gone into a shelter-in-place earlier Thursday, after officials locked down multiple floors and hallways in response to a potential air hazard situation, according to three officials.
—Steve Beynon, ABC News, 11 June 2026
Parnell had said a shelter-in-place was in place for affected areas.
—Stephen Smith, CBS News, 11 June 2026
But Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn questioned the head of the county’s Office of Emergency Management, asking why a shelter-in-place order was not issued.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shelter in place
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Adjective
The breach prompted a temporary shelter-in-place order as authorities worked to secure the installation.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Portions of the Pentagon had gone into a shelter-in-place earlier Thursday, after officials locked down multiple floors and hallways in response to a potential air hazard situation, according to three officials.
—Steve Beynon, ABC News, 11 June 2026
Parnell had said a shelter-in-place was in place for affected areas.
—Stephen Smith, CBS News, 11 June 2026
But Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn questioned the head of the county’s Office of Emergency Management, asking why a shelter-in-place order was not issued.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shelter in place
Cite this Entry
“Shelter in place.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelter%20in%20place. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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