shelter in place

American

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

Or shelter-in-place

noun

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.

verb (used without object)

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

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

A shelter in place order for residents around a burning cold storage facility in Boyle Heights has been lifted, the Los Angeles Fire Department announced on Friday.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

The US embassy in Mali issued a security alert on its website urging US citizens in and around the capital to "shelter in place".

From Barron's • Apr. 25, 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

Embassy in Kuwait, after suspending operations Tuesday and previously advising Americans in Kuwait to shelter in place.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

She urged people to follow local advice, which in most countries was to shelter in place.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

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