shrine

1 of 2

noun

ˈshrīn How to pronounce shrine (audio)
 especially Southern  ˈsrīn
1
a
: a case, box, or receptacle
especially : one in which sacred relics (such as the bones of a saint) are deposited
b
: a place in which devotion is paid to a saint or deity : sanctuary
c
: a niche containing a religious image
2
: a receptacle (such as a tomb) for the dead
3
: a place or object hallowed by its associations

shrine

2 of 2

verb

shrined; shrining

Examples of shrine in a Sentence

Noun the shrine of Saint Mary They erected a shrine to the saint. tourists visiting the shrines of American independence The writer's house has become a shrine to his fans.
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.
Noun
Torii gates are iconic structures that mark the boundary between the everyday and the sacred at Shinto shrines across Japan. Arata Yamamoto, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024 There are also ancient temples and shrines throughout the town. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
The whole idea of a tourist attraction built as a guileless ode to love, and shrine to a Slovak poem, may strike you, at first blush, as defying both rhyme and reason. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024 Pro tip: Take a look at the Luke Kuechly shrine in the back. Katie Toussaint, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shrine 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English scrīn, from Latin scrinium case, chest

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shrine was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shrine

Cite this Entry

“Shrine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrine. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

shrine

noun
ˈshrīn
1
: a case or box for sacred relics (as the bones of a saint)
2
: a place in which devotion is paid to a saint or deity
a Buddhist shrine
3
: a place that is considered sacred
visited the shrines of American independence

More from Merriam-Webster on shrine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!