plural shelters
1
a
: something that covers or affords protection
a bomb shelter
We made a shelter from branches.
see also fallout shelter, tax shelter
b
: an establishment providing food, protection, and temporary housing for people who need assistance
a shelter for battered women
shelters for the unhoused
c
: an establishment that houses and feeds stray or unwanted animals
a no-kill shelter
2
: a position or the state of being covered and protected (as from bad weather or danger)
We ran for shelter when the rain started.
The hikers took shelter in an abandoned cabin.
sheltered; sheltering
ˈshel-t(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to constitute or provide a shelter for : protect
has led a sheltered life
2
: to place under shelter or protection
sheltered himself in a mountain cave
3
: to protect (income) from taxation
: to take shelter
Phrases
shelter in place
: to remain inside in one's current location until a danger has passed : to temporarily take shelter in a protected space
The … campus was placed under lockdown in response to the shooting. People on campus were advised to shelter in place. No students were hurt or endangered, the school said.—
Julia Jacobo
Julia JacoboThese communities—including our own—need to start hardening themselves against future fires. That means preparing homes for fires the way we already do for earthquakes and floods. It also means developing better alert systems, heeding evacuation warnings when they come and being prepared to shelter in place when escape routes are cut off …—The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California)
The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California)Synonyms
Examples of shelter in a Sentence
Noun
We made a shelter from branches.
a shelter for battered women
The organization provides food and shelter for homeless people.
The crowd ran for shelter when the rain started.
They sought shelter from the storm.
Verb
A cave sheltered the climbers during the storm.
They sheltered in a cave while they waited for the storm to pass.
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Speaking of kicking, the detachable shelter keeps litter and pee inside—just in case your cat has a high stream.
—Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
Police cruisers with loudspeakers began circling central neighborhoods encouraging people to shelter in place ahead of the storm.
—Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shelter 
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.
Noun
Plus, her adoption brings hope to many other dogs who spend months and years in an animal shelter.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Speaking of kicking, the detachable shelter keeps litter and pee inside—just in case your cat has a high stream.
—Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Residents in the area are asked to shelter in place until further notice.
—Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
Police cruisers with loudspeakers began circling central neighborhoods encouraging people to shelter in place ahead of the storm.
—Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shelter
Dictionary Entries Near shelter
Cite this Entry
“Shelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelter. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shelter
1 of 2 noun
shel·ter
ˈshel-tər
1
a
: something that covers or protects
an air raid shelter
a fallout shelter
b
: a place that provides food and lodging (as to the homeless)
c
: a place that houses and feeds stray or unwanted animals
2
: the state of being protected
take shelter from a storm
shelter
2 of 2 verb
sheltered; sheltering
-t(ə-)riŋ
1
: to be a shelter for : provide with shelter
2
: to find and use a shelter
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share