plural shelves
ˈshelvz 
1
a
: a thin flat usually long and narrow piece of material (such as wood) fastened horizontally (as on a wall) at a distance from the floor to hold objects
b
: one of several similar pieces in a closet, bookcase, or similar structure
c
: the contents of a shelf
the author of a shelf of bestsellers
2
: something resembling a shelf in form or position: such as
a
: a sandbank or ledge of rocks usually partially submerged
b
: a flat projecting layer of rock
c
: the submerged gradually sloping border of a continent or island : continental shelf
Examples of shelf in a Sentence
Put the vase on the shelf.
the top shelf of the kitchen cabinet
Will you get that book down off the shelf?
We don't have much shelf space.
Recent Examples on the Web
The foldable design measures just 117 x 66 x 25mm and includes a flip-out magnetic shelf for an Apple Watch plus a ledge for charging AirPods or any other earbuds that can be charged wirelessly.
—
Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Olympic gold medalist Jack Alexy will have to make room on his trophy shelf after taking home his first individual gold medal at the short course World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest on Thursday.
—Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 12 Dec. 2024
On my highest shelves sat unused bottles of rice vinegar and packs of soba, collecting dust.
—Elica Sue, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024
For the typically still-water environment, the waves disrupted the shallow shelf that the pupfish use as a spawning area, likely knocking eggs deep into the cavern.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shelf 
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Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Olympic gold medalist Jack Alexy will have to make room on his trophy shelf after taking home his first individual gold medal at the short course World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest on Thursday.
—Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 12 Dec. 2024
On my highest shelves sat unused bottles of rice vinegar and packs of soba, collecting dust.
—Elica Sue, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024
For the typically still-water environment, the waves disrupted the shallow shelf that the pupfish use as a spawning area, likely knocking eggs deep into the cavern.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shelf
Dictionary Entries Near shelf
Cite this Entry
“Shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelf. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shelf
noun
plural shelves
ˈshelvz
1
: a flat piece (as of wood or metal) set parallel to and above a floor (as on a wall or in a bookcase) to hold objects
2
: something (as a sandbar or ledge of rock) that suggests a shelf
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