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.
Reps aren’t as overworked and can focus on more meaningful tasks; clients aren’t getting stuck in endless loops and ultimately shelving a product instead of using it. Rachel Lyubovitzky, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 Their record label, Slash Records, shelved the album’s release indefinitely amid an effort to sell itself. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025 Here are some highlights: More than one of the albums were likely shelved because Springsteen couldn’t figure out how to tour them. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2025 The protests ultimately led to the proposal being shelved. Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 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 4 Jul. 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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