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.

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shelve ² American  

[shelv] / ʃɛlv /

verb (used without object)

shelved, shelving

1. to slope gradually.

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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

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shelve ² British  

/ ʃɛlv /

verb

1. (intr) to slope away gradually; incline

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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

Endangered ruling elites at war tend to stick together, temporarily shelving differences and rivalries.

From The Wall Street Journal

Plans by Qatar to expand production—which were initially expected to happen later this year—will also have to be shelved for an extended period.

From Barron's

Me and Tansy both looked at the library shelved under the windows.

From Literature

It has since shelved that plan as it also came under pressure from the Food and Drug Administration.

From MarketWatch

“The thinking was to engage finance clubs and quant traders, but we decided to shelve this program to focus on broader brand efforts,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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