shelve

verb

shelved; shelving

transitive verb

1
: to furnish with shelves
2
: to place on a shelf
shelve books
3
a
: to remove from active service
b
: to put off or aside
shelve a project

intransitive verb

: to slope in a formation like a shelf
shelver noun

Examples of shelve in a Sentence

The books were shelved according to category. let's shelve the project for now
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kraven: The Hunter looks to be another eventual failure for the attempted — and now apparently shelved — Sony Spider-Man Universe. Mark Hughes, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 Productions include Nicolas Cage comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, and Batgirl, which Warner Bros wound up shelving, controversially. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024 The plan should be shelved until the agency’s finances are transparently accounted for. Daniel Borenstein, The Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2024 All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey, meanwhile, started the year healthy but has been shelved since Nov. 6 with a right hamstring injury. Alex Kirschenbaum, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shelve 

Word History

Etymology

shelf

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shelve was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near shelve

Cite this Entry

“Shelve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelve. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

shelve

verb
shelved; shelving
1
: to place on a shelf
shelve books
2
: to put off or aside : defer
shelve a project
shelver noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shelve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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