shelve

¹

[shelv]

verb (used with object)

shelved, shelving 

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, shelving 

1. to slope gradually.

shelve

¹

/ 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

shelve

²

/ ʃɛlv /

verb

1. (intr) to slope away gradually; incline

Other Word Forms

• shelver 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: from shelves, plural of _shelf

Origin of shelve²

C16: origin uncertain

Example Sentences

A cancer diagnosis forced me to shelve the idea.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The new headquarters will be built on Riverside South, which JP Morgan bought in 2008 - but shelved plans following that year's global financial crisis.

Read more on BBC

Worse yet, Meta studied the solutions to child safety problems, calculated the growth impact — and then allegedly shelved the fixes for years.

Read more on Salon

Screens and shelving units provided a taste of the privacy for workers that Propst sought.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With a roomy 18 cubic feet, it holds far more than you’d expect and stays easy to organize thanks to generous shelving and a bright LED light.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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