shelving

1 of 3

noun (1)

shelv·​ing ˈshel-viŋ 

1

: a sloping surface or place

2

: the state or degree of sloping

shelving

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: material for shelves

2

: shelves

shelving

3 of 3

present participle of shelve

Examples of shelving in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That has real consequences for how living rooms, hallways and home offices get styled — gallery walls of family photos, open shelving for ceramics and framed ephemera from meaningful trips will crowd out generic wall art. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026

In the office on the lower level, a showroom for Atwood’s vast collection of fashion books, the team enlisted German designer Frederik Fialin to build a room within the room using surgical-grade stainless-steel shelving. — Matt Goulet, Architectural Digest, 22 Sep. 2026

Mobile shelving In the season premiere, Reacher gets into a fight in the basement of Philadelphia’s gorgeous Parkway Central Library. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Open Shelving Just say no to open shelving, states Jade Joyner. — Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shelving

• delving

Kids Definition

shelving

noun

shelv·​ing

ˈshel-viŋ

: material to make shelves from

also : the shelves themselves