shelter-in-place

adjective

variants or less commonly shelter in place

: instructing or requiring people to remain in their current location until a danger has passed

The governor has issued a shelter-in-place order.

: of or relating to sheltering in place

shelter-in-place drills

see also shelter in place at shelter entry 2

Examples of shelter-in-place in a Sentence

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.

After the fire grew, the city issued a shelter-in-place warning to the city and surrounding areas. —

Raven Brunner, People.com, 2 Feb. 2025 The school went in a shelter-in-place protocol, with students relocating to the library and campus center. —

Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024 The lockdown and shelter-in-place order was put into effect in the morning hours at Momauguin Elementary School, according to Capt. Joseph M. Murgo of the East Haven Police Department. —

Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2025 A lot of people tried them while in shelter-in-place mode. —

Andrew Deangelo, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for shelter-in-place

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of shelter-in-place was in 1977

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Shelter-in-place.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelter-in-place. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

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