shelve

¹

[ shelv ]

verb (used with object)

, shelved, shelv·ing.

1. to place (something) on a shelf or shelves.
2. to put off or aside from consideration:

   to shelve the question.

   Synonyms: pigeonhole, table, defer

3. to remove from active use or service; dismiss.
4. to furnish with shelves.

shelve

²

[ shelv ]

verb (used without object)

, shelved, shelv·ing.

1. to slope gradually.

shelve

¹

/ ʃɛlv /

verb

1. intr to slope away gradually; incline

shelve

²

/ ʃɛlv /

verb

1. to place on a shelf
2. to provide with shelves
3. to put aside or postpone from consideration
4. to dismiss or cause to retire

Derived Forms

• ˈshelver, noun

Other Words From

• shelver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelve¹

First recorded in 1585–95; verb use of shelve(s)

Origin of shelve²

1580–90; origin uncertain; compare Frisian skelf not quite level

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelve¹

C16: origin uncertain

Origin of shelve²

C16: from shelves, plural of shelf

Example Sentences

A few weeks later, the entertainment juggernaut had to halt park operations in much of the world because of the spreading coronavirus and shelve its theatrical release schedule because movie theaters around the world were closing.

From Washington Post

With the future of the app in the United States no longer a question and the sale to Oracle shelved, that stability has marketers more comfortable committing additional ad dollars to the short-form video app.

From Digiday

“WandaVision” puts to rest any thoughts of the Marvel Studios machine losing steam during a pandemic that has temporarily shelved two of its 2020 superhero films.

From Washington Post

To be clear, ABC News Live has not entirely shelved its original programming plans.

From Digiday

This standalone garment rack from Iris is roughly 40 inches tall and features hanging storage combined with a shelving unit in one.

From Popular-Science

When Kubrick explained that the resulting movie would be seven hours long, they agreed to shelve the script.

From The Daily Beast

Today, Selig issued a 211-game suspension that would shelve the Yankee star for the rest of the year and all of next.

From The Daily Beast

If they read Nelson carefully, they'll hear a muted warning to shelve Paul Ryan's budget plans.

From The Daily Beast

That's really expensive, and it requires a lot of labor to keep track of all of those SKUs, figure out where to shelve them, etc.

From The Daily Beast

So should we shelve the personal-empowerment movement if we want to have long and happy marriages?

From The Daily Beast

Observe thief, but thieves and to thieve; loaf, but loaves; shelf, but shelves and to shelve.

From Project Gutenberg

These are the momentous, the pressing questions which a man can only shelve at his peril.

From Project Gutenberg

Two more rooms were taken over from the Legislative Council in 1881 and temporarily the Library could shelve all its books.

From Project Gutenberg

Dr Chapple has done nothing more than shelve it, for as we have seen his remedy is both practically and morally impossible.

From Project Gutenberg

Oh, perhaps the next time we chat together, he laughed, anxious to shelve the matter for the moment.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• freeze
• give up
• mothball
• prolong
• put off
• suspend
• waive