1
a
: something that covers or affords protection
a bomb shelter
b
: an establishment providing food and shelter (as to the homeless)
c
: an establishment that houses and feeds stray or unwanted animals
2
: a position or the state of being covered and protected
took shelter
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
Phrases
shelter in place
: 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)Synonyms
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 WebLila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Always outnumbered, the Apaches used fighting skill and knowledge of the rugged terrain to their advantage, returning to the mountains that provided them with shelter and food.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Airport worker Sheldon Thomas, who noted there are more who come at night seeking shelter, asked why Charlotte developers are always putting up new buildings, but no massive structures for the homeless.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2024
Rising energy and shelter costs were the main drivers of the jump in headline inflation in March.
—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
If finding indoor shelter is not an option: • Stay away from open fields, hill summits, or ridge tops.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
The foundation partners with and provides funding to local nonprofit organizations in Central Ohio that help provide basic needs such as food, education and shelter to underprivileged Central Ohio citizens.
—Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
What is also unclear is what the withdrawal means for Israel’s plans to invade Rafah, the southernmost part of Gaza that has become a shelter for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
—Vasco Cotovio, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
The Tucson shelter released a report in November after its own internal investigation, issuing recommendations to set new standard practices and improve shelter policies, data collection and oversight.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
Where to eat: Located on the renowned Carteret beach, sheltered by Cap de Carteret, La Potinière offers direct access from the terrace to the sea and a buzzy feel late into the night.
—Anya Meyerowitz, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2024
Middle East Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the timing for a ground offensive in Rafah, where about 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering, has been set — but did not reveal the date.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The majority were sheltering in an underground root cellar in the back yard of another farmhouse.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The community, which sheltered trans-Atlantic air travelers whose planes were diverted after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is the near the end of the eclipse’s path but may have to settle for the simulation.
—Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
In 2020, the pair unveiled Casa de Esperanza, an old hotel repurposed to shelter those experiencing chronic homelessness.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
The World Health Organization said 21 patients died during the operation, which left the medical complex in ruins and those sheltering at the site in dire conditions.
—NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
An Associated Press reporter filmed the strike and aftermath at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where thousands of people have sheltered.
—Melanie Lindman, Wafaa Shurafa, arkansasonline.com, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
When urchins are kept in check, kelp forests flourish — sequestering carbon and providing food and shelter for fish, shellfish and other life.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Always outnumbered, the Apaches used fighting skill and knowledge of the rugged terrain to their advantage, returning to the mountains that provided them with shelter and food.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Airport worker Sheldon Thomas, who noted there are more who come at night seeking shelter, asked why Charlotte developers are always putting up new buildings, but no massive structures for the homeless.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2024
Rising energy and shelter costs were the main drivers of the jump in headline inflation in March.
—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
If finding indoor shelter is not an option: • Stay away from open fields, hill summits, or ridge tops.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
The foundation partners with and provides funding to local nonprofit organizations in Central Ohio that help provide basic needs such as food, education and shelter to underprivileged Central Ohio citizens.
—Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
What is also unclear is what the withdrawal means for Israel’s plans to invade Rafah, the southernmost part of Gaza that has become a shelter for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
—Vasco Cotovio, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
The Tucson shelter released a report in November after its own internal investigation, issuing recommendations to set new standard practices and improve shelter policies, data collection and oversight.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
Gamble later confirmed that the Police Department asked customers and employees at nearby stores to shelter in place until the area could be secured.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
Where to eat: Located on the renowned Carteret beach, sheltered by Cap de Carteret, La Potinière offers direct access from the terrace to the sea and a buzzy feel late into the night.
—Anya Meyerowitz, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2024
Middle East Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the timing for a ground offensive in Rafah, where about 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering, has been set — but did not reveal the date.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The majority were sheltering in an underground root cellar in the back yard of another farmhouse.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The community, which sheltered trans-Atlantic air travelers whose planes were diverted after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is the near the end of the eclipse’s path but may have to settle for the simulation.
—Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
In 2020, the pair unveiled Casa de Esperanza, an old hotel repurposed to shelter those experiencing chronic homelessness.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
The World Health Organization said 21 patients died during the operation, which left the medical complex in ruins and those sheltering at the site in dire conditions.
—NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
An Associated Press reporter filmed the strike and aftermath at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where thousands of people have sheltered.
—Melanie Lindman, Wafaa Shurafa, arkansasonline.com, 1 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shelter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near shelter
Cite this Entry
“Shelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelter. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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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