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 WebTaylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Hidden among the old trains was a waiting shelter from the Rio Vista Station on the Red Car’s L.A. to Van Nuys line, circa 1920.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
The justices seemed particularly concerned with how to decide whether a city had enough shelter beds and who would be responsible for sorting out such complex issues day to day.
—Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024
And what if there is a shelter bed open, but someone refuses to go?
—Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024
Since the Ninth Circuit rulings, some judges have blocked cities from evicting encampments unless there are enough shelter beds for its entire homeless population.
—Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
If finding indoor shelter is not an option: • Steer clear of open fields, hilltops, or ridge tops.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2024
Illinois remains the state with by far the largest number of measles cases this year, after a large outbreak at a Chicago migrant shelter that the city's health department now says has slowed significantly in the wake of a major vaccination push.
—Alexander Tin, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024
To check the status of a specific animal, please contact the shelter directly.
—The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
The private-feeling hotel huddles two blocks back from Calle Benita Juárez, 10 seconds from everything but sheltered from the day-tripping lookie-loos wandering Todos Santos’s main drag.
—Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2024
Tornado warning for Lansing area The NWS' Grand Rapids office issued a tornado warning for Lansing, East Lansing and Holt until 2:30 p.m.
Michigan lawmakers sheltered in place during the warning.
—Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2024
Phase two will incorporate CLT and glulam in exterior features like a footbridge and canopies sheltering photovoltaic arrays.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
No matter how sheltered a source of poison might seem, its deadly impact can travel far and wide.
—Lauren Oster, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
An 11-year-old boy and his parents lived in the camper and sheltered in a campground bathroom, officials said.
—CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024
The Israeli Air Force was set to begin dropping leaflets on parts of Rafah on Monday, two Israeli sources said, amid preparations for a ground offensive into Gaza’s southernmost city where more than 1 million people are sheltering.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
Before submitting an application, the resident must build a burrow to shelter the tortoise from the elements.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
Noun
The court said the rules couldn't be enforced against homeless people if there weren't enough shelter beds.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Hidden among the old trains was a waiting shelter from the Rio Vista Station on the Red Car’s L.A. to Van Nuys line, circa 1920.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
The justices seemed particularly concerned with how to decide whether a city had enough shelter beds and who would be responsible for sorting out such complex issues day to day.
—Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024
And what if there is a shelter bed open, but someone refuses to go?
—Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024
Since the Ninth Circuit rulings, some judges have blocked cities from evicting encampments unless there are enough shelter beds for its entire homeless population.
—Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
If finding indoor shelter is not an option: • Steer clear of open fields, hilltops, or ridge tops.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2024
Illinois remains the state with by far the largest number of measles cases this year, after a large outbreak at a Chicago migrant shelter that the city's health department now says has slowed significantly in the wake of a major vaccination push.
—Alexander Tin, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024
To check the status of a specific animal, please contact the shelter directly.
—The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
Verb
Humans sheltered for thousands of years in a lava tube.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
The private-feeling hotel huddles two blocks back from Calle Benita Juárez, 10 seconds from everything but sheltered from the day-tripping lookie-loos wandering Todos Santos’s main drag.
—Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2024
Tornado warning for Lansing area The NWS' Grand Rapids office issued a tornado warning for Lansing, East Lansing and Holt until 2:30 p.m.
Michigan lawmakers sheltered in place during the warning.
—Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2024
Phase two will incorporate CLT and glulam in exterior features like a footbridge and canopies sheltering photovoltaic arrays.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
No matter how sheltered a source of poison might seem, its deadly impact can travel far and wide.
—Lauren Oster, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
An 11-year-old boy and his parents lived in the camper and sheltered in a campground bathroom, officials said.
—CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024
The Israeli Air Force was set to begin dropping leaflets on parts of Rafah on Monday, two Israeli sources said, amid preparations for a ground offensive into Gaza’s southernmost city where more than 1 million people are sheltering.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
Before submitting an application, the resident must build a burrow to shelter the tortoise from the elements.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 12 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 27 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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