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Synonyms

shelve

1 American  
[shelv] / ʃɛlv /

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 American  
[shelv] / ʃɛlv /

verb (used without object)

shelved, shelving

  1. to slope gradually.

shelve 1 British  
/ 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

"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
shelve 2 British  
/ ʃɛlv /

verb

  1. (intr) to slope away gradually; incline

"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

Other Word Forms

  • shelver noun

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.

Britain indicated Saturday it would shelve plans to hand back the Chagos Islands -- which hosts a strategic US-UK military base -- after US President Donald Trump strongly criticised the deal.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

In its letter to Spiegel, Irenic calls for Snap to potentially cut staff, shelve certain projects, and capitalize on the “AI opportunity” among other proposals.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Former contestants of a now-axed BBC LGBTQ+ dating show say they feel "frustrated" and "sad" at the decision to shelve the programme.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

The Volkswagen decision to shelve the vehicle a little more than a year after going on sale in the U.S. underlines how EV sales could struggle in the absence of financial incentives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

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

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.