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Synonyms

shelving

American  
[shel-ving] / ˈʃɛl vɪŋ /

noun

  1. material for shelves.

  2. shelves collectively.

shelving British  
/ ˈʃɛlvɪŋ /

noun

  1. material for making shelves

  2. a set of shelves; shelves collectively

"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

Etymology

Origin of shelving

First recorded in 1625–35; shelve 1 + -ing 1

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.

Irenic proposed staff cuts, shelving projects, and leveraging AI; Snap’s board welcomes input, focusing on efficiency.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

"No-one likes uncertainty," said Push Sharma, founder of Singapore-based wellness brand Haldy, which had spent years preparing to enter the American market before abruptly shelving its plans last year.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

If doctors determine he is unlikely to play this season, it’s unlikely the team would make the same mistake since shelving Puig would open up a designated-play spot.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2026

She blocked the door open with her foot and pointed along one wall to a long section of shelving with three or four hundred books.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

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.