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.
Examples of shelter in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
This is finally an allegory of humanity’s needs beyond food, water, and shelter.
—
Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
Critters like mice, squirrels, birds and ants are keen on entering the shelters while humans wait on the sidewalk to avoid getting filth on the bottoms of their shoes.
—Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
Just a mile from Atlanta's stadium, which will welcome tens of thousands of fans to World Cup games this month, dozens of people were camped out on a downtown sidewalk waiting for a homeless shelter to open.
—CBS News, 9 June 2026
The earthquake centered off Mindanao, the second most populous Philippine island, injured nearly 500 people and displaced more than 32,000, most of whom fled to emergency shelters.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shelter
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
Critters like mice, squirrels, birds and ants are keen on entering the shelters while humans wait on the sidewalk to avoid getting filth on the bottoms of their shoes.
—Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
Just a mile from Atlanta's stadium, which will welcome tens of thousands of fans to World Cup games this month, dozens of people were camped out on a downtown sidewalk waiting for a homeless shelter to open.
—CBS News, 9 June 2026
The earthquake centered off Mindanao, the second most populous Philippine island, injured nearly 500 people and displaced more than 32,000, most of whom fled to emergency shelters.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 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 10 Jun. 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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