shelve

verb

ˈshelv 

shelved; shelving

transitive verb

1

: to furnish with shelves

2

: to place on a shelf

shelve books

3

a

: to remove from active service

b

: to put off or aside

shelve a project

intransitive verb

: to slope in a formation like a shelf

shelver noun

Synonyms of shelve

• postpone
• delay
• defer

Examples of shelve in a Sentence

The books were shelved according to category.

let's shelve the project for now

Recent Examples on the Web

The Athletic reported in March that FSG had effectively shelved plans to buy a second club with Edwards left frustrated by the impasse. — James Pearce, New York Times, 10 July 2026

Originally intended for Take Me Apart, the track was shelved after creative differences with a producer led Kelela to take that album in a different direction. — Chelsea Daniel, Vogue, 10 July 2026

Executives also weighed shelving a target that would have had Microsoft match its hourly data center electricity use with renewables. — Matt Day, Fortune, 9 July 2026

Sources now say the project has been shelved outright rather than simply awaiting a new director — a characterization that has not yet been confirmed by either camp. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

shelf

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for shelve

• delve
• twelve

Kids Definition

shelve

verb

ˈshelv 

shelved; shelving

1

: to place on a shelf

shelve books

2

: to put off or aside : defer

shelve a project

shelver noun