Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for shelve

shelve

1

[ shelv ]

verb (used with object)

, shelved, shelv·ing.
  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.


shelve

2

[ shelv ]

verb (used without object)

, shelved, shelv·ing.
  1. to slope gradually.

shelve

1

/ ʃɛlv /

verb

  1. intr to slope away gradually; incline


shelve

2

/ 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

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈshelver, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

  • shelver noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

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

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelve1

C16: origin uncertain

Origin of shelve2

C16: from shelves, plural of shelf

Discover More

Example Sentences

When Kubrick explained that the resulting movie would be seven hours long, they agreed to shelve the script.

Today, Selig issued a 211-game suspension that would shelve the Yankee star for the rest of the year and all of next.

If they read Nelson carefully, they'll hear a muted warning to shelve Paul Ryan's budget plans.

That's really expensive, and it requires a lot of labor to keep track of all of those SKUs, figure out where to shelve them, etc.

So should we shelve the personal-empowerment movement if we want to have long and happy marriages?

Observe thief, but thieves and to thieve; loaf, but loaves; shelf, but shelves and to shelve.

These are the momentous, the pressing questions which a man can only shelve at his peril.

Two more rooms were taken over from the Legislative Council in 1881 and temporarily the Library could shelve all its books.

Dr Chapple has done nothing more than shelve it, for as we have seen his remedy is both practically and morally impossible.

Oh, perhaps the next time we chat together, he laughed, anxious to shelve the matter for the moment.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

firkin

[fur-kin ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


sheltyshelves