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
Kristi Swartz,
AJC.com,
26 June 2026
No shelter-in-place orders were in effect, but officials recommended that those in affected areas limit their exposure to the outside air and to consider wearing an N95 mask.
—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Although a shelter-in-place order was not issued, LA Mayor Karen Bass and other city officials offered over 1,000 air purifiers and face masks to residents who needed them.
—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Police later lifted the shelter-in-place order and said the immediate threat to the public was no longer present.
—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shelter in place
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Adjective
The September 2024 fire spurred evacuations of thousands, weekslong overnight shelter-in-place orders, road closures, including parts of I-20 and led many to seek medical attention.
—
Kristi Swartz,
AJC.com,
26 June 2026
No shelter-in-place orders were in effect, but officials recommended that those in affected areas limit their exposure to the outside air and to consider wearing an N95 mask.
—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Although a shelter-in-place order was not issued, LA Mayor Karen Bass and other city officials offered over 1,000 air purifiers and face masks to residents who needed them.
—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Police later lifted the shelter-in-place order and said the immediate threat to the public was no longer present.
—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
22 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 29 Jun. 2026.
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