Definitions

shelves

[shelvz] / ʃɛlvz /

NOUN

jutting, flat area or piece

Synonyms

STRONGEST

counter cupboard ledge rack

STRONG

bank bracket console mantelpiece mantle reef ridge rock shallow shoal

VERB

defer, postpone

Synonyms

STRONGEST

freeze give up mothball prolong put off suspend waive

STRONG

delay dismiss drop hold pigeonhole prorogue scrub sideline stay table

WEAK

hang up hold off hold over hold up lay aside put aside put on back burner put on hold put on ice slow up tie up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

continue go

STRONG

advance

WEAK

carry out do go ahead

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.

And while it didn’t exactly fly off the shelves, its concurrence with the height of the Seattle grunge music scene made the disheveled aesthetic a street-style must-have.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Australia's sunscreen regulator has proposed sweeping reforms to the industry after a recent scandal saw dozens of popular brands pulled off shelves.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Canada, a huge market for American alcohol, largely cleared its shelves of liquor, wine and beer from the U.S. over a year ago, cutting that market off nearly completely.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

He hired a local woodworker to make shelves.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Some of the shelves held things like bottled water and baby diapers and cans of food, but a lot more of the shelves were empty.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz