Synonyms

bookcase

American

[book-keys] / ˈbʊkˌkeɪs /

noun

a set of shelves for books.

bookcase British

/ ˈbʊkˌkeɪs /

noun

a piece of furniture containing shelves for books, often fitted with glass doors

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bookcase

First recorded in 1720–30; book + case ²

Compare meaning

How does bookcase compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

bookshelf vs. bookcase

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He made sleeping mats stuffed with rustling palm fronds, a table and two stools, a desk, bookcases and shelves for his science stuff, coconut-shell bowls, and seashell plates.

From Literature

He could pull books out of the bookcases and tear their pages out.

From Literature

What caught my eye was a bookcase set dead in the middle of the room.

From Literature

Flapping its leathery wings, it flew to the top of his bookcase.

From Literature

Restoration work was carried out on both the building and its contents, including rewaxing a rare Chippendale bookcase estimated to be worth about £20m.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023