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 lower-body passing mechanics O'Connell and his staff have been working so exhaustively on with the struggling McCarthy can be shelved until spring. —CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025

Two of Oman’s nine green hydrogen projects have been shelved, amid industry concerns about a mismatch between supply and demand for the low-emissions fuel. —Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 3 Dec. 2025

Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole, and Clarke Schmidt are all expected to be shelved at the beginning of the 2026 season. —Patrick McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

There is no clear timeline for a decision around whether the series may be reworked, formally licensed, or shelved. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2025

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