shelter in place

American  

[shel-ter in pleys] / ˈʃɛl tər ɪn ˈpleɪs /

Or shelter-in-place

noun

1. an official order, issued during an emergency, that directs people to stay in the indoor place or building that they already occupy and not to leave unless absolutely necessary.

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verb (used without object)

1. to stay in a safe indoor place or building during an emergency.

   If police believe there is an active shooter on campus, they will order students and faculty to shelter in place.

Etymology

Origin of shelter in place

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shelter in place

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green urged residents to shelter in place as rainfall reached 2 inches an hour in some areas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

Residents were urged to shelter in place due to downed power lines and other hazards.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Officials urged people in the area to shelter in place near the mosque at 7050 Eckstrom Avenue.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026

Embassy in Bamako told its citizens to shelter in place and avoid unnecessary travel, adding that it was “aware of reports of possible terrorist movements within Bamako, including reports of forced school closures.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

Some Western embassy staff in Riyadh meanwhile were told to shelter in place, diplomatic sources said, following an attack on the US embassy compound earlier this week.

From Barron's ● Mar. 6, 2026