shelve

verb

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Where truth is boxed and shelved, not wrestled with. Big Think, 10 Sep. 2025 The most recent came in early August, when plans to hold their traditional season-opening Joan Gamper Trophy friendly match at the Camp Nou had to be shelved. Pol Ballus, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025 Already, there is harrowing déjà vu, with offensive mainstay Christian McCaffrey suddenly dealing with a calf injury, a year after Achilles tendinitis shelved him for eight games. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025 Hiring efforts, already stymied in part by still-high interest rates, have been largely shelved due to the unknowns. Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shelve

Word History

Etymology

shelf

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shelve was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shelve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelve. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

shelve

verb
shelved; shelving
1
: to place on a shelf
shelve books
2
: to put off or aside : defer
shelve a project
shelver noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shelve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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