shelve
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
to place (something) on a shelf or shelves.
-
to put off or aside from consideration.
to shelve the question.
- Synonyms:
- pigeonhole, table, defer
-
to remove from active use or service; dismiss.
-
to furnish with shelves.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to place on a shelf
-
to provide with shelves
-
to put aside or postpone from consideration
-
to dismiss or cause to retire
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
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
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.
See Examples For:
Turmoil in the bond market might have played a role in the decision of smart-ring maker Oura to shelve its IPO.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told world leaders at the United Nations this week that the country would neither shelve its nuclear program nor build nuclear weapons, repeating Tehran’s usual refrain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
A few days ago team officials expressed optimism, but Tuesday they decided to shelve their shortstop when the ankle became inflamed after a workout.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Walsh told the jury it was human nature to "box" or "shelve" feelings away – and that was what Complainant A and B had done over the years.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
She envisioned Mr. Griswold walking out from the back with a box of books to shelve, greeting customers as the chimes signaled their entrance.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
South Korea and Japan shelved decades of historical enmity to present China with a united front.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
“There’s no gotcha, there’s no backroom deal,” the mayor said before the contract was shelved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Mounting worries about AI, combined with a series of shelved IPOs, makes the Anthropic IPO all the more critical.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
In the last three weeks before the Dodgers finally shelved him, he had a .130 batting average.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
I look at the Little Free Library stocked with picture books and shelved alphabetically by the illustrators’ last names.
From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner
Herman later added a wall to divide the studio space as well as custom shelving for his expansive library and ceramics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
They were found stuck to the under side of a shelving unit in his cell.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Another previously empty room was transformed into a chic lounge complete with a large couch, marble coffee table, wood flooring, and custom shelving.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Yet the quarterly tax write-off from shelving Coyote vs.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
The box had been stored in a section of shelving with a flashing LCD that read “Magazines & Periodicals. 1930s.”
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
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