shrine

1 of 2

noun

ˈshrīn How to pronounce shrine (audio)
 especially Southern  ˈsrīn
1
a
: a case, box, or receptacle
especially : one in which sacred relics (such as the bones of a saint) are deposited
b
: a place in which devotion is paid to a saint or deity : sanctuary
c
: a niche containing a religious image
2
: a receptacle (such as a tomb) for the dead
3
: a place or object hallowed by its associations

shrine

2 of 2

verb

shrined; shrining

Examples of shrine in a Sentence

Noun the shrine of Saint Mary They erected a shrine to the saint. tourists visiting the shrines of American independence The writer's house has become a shrine to his fans.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Kameido Tenjin Shrine Even the country's temples and shrines debut these colorful displays in the spring. Talia Avakian, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 Via voiceover and in an on-camera interview-style monologue, Gabriel talks about his upbringing: the traditional initiation rituals, the ancestral shrines, the Catholic schooling. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2024 Presence star Julia Fox’s new home came with a free ghost and a shrine dedicated to the spirit who lives there. Vulture, 20 Jan. 2024 Furthermore, the dispute includes implications of witchcraft, shrines – most of which are perpetuating ignorance, xenophobia and fear mongering. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 12 Jan. 2024 In the cities of Mashhad, Qum and Shiraz, they were carried to religious shrines for blessings. Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2024 Her paralysis was reportedly instantly cured, says the Lourdes shrine website. Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, in Japan’s Wakayama prefecture, famous for growing mandarin oranges, there’s a shrine dedicated to the god of the mikan, also known as the satsuma mandarin. TIME, 2 Feb. 2024 With nearly vertical stairways throughout, its 13 stories house roughly 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and over 20,000 statues. Jordan Riefe, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2024
Verb
The whole idea of a tourist attraction built as a guileless ode to love, and shrine to a Slovak poem, may strike you, at first blush, as defying both rhyme and reason. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024 Pro tip: Take a look at the Luke Kuechly shrine in the back. Katie Toussaint, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 In the video, the two grooms stand in front of a balloon arch and shrine for the rat hole. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 24 Jan. 2024 The star quarterback and safety reminisced about their relationship and entering the Canton, Ohio, shrine together hours after the latest group of inductees was revealed. Barry Wilner, Star Tribune, 7 Feb. 2021 Thousands of pilgrims on their way to shrine or lodged at the base camps in Pahalgam and Sonamarg were asked to return. Riyaz Wani, Quartz India, 4 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shrine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English scrīn, from Latin scrinium case, chest

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shrine was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shrine

Cite this Entry

“Shrine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrine. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shrine

noun
ˈshrīn
1
: a case or box for sacred relics (as the bones of a saint)
2
: a place in which devotion is paid to a saint or deity
a Buddhist shrine
3
: a place that is considered sacred
visited the shrines of American independence

More from Merriam-Webster on shrine

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