How to Use shelf in a Sentence

shelf

noun
Definition of shelfnext
  • Put the vase on the shelf.
  • Will you get that book down off the shelf?
  • We don't have much shelf space.
  • The shelves float on a wall in the colors of the ocean floor.
    — House Beautiful, 5 June 2023
  • Pull items out of the closet and wipe down the shelves.
    — Dominique Fluker, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024
  • The shelves are stocked, and that wasn’t the case when the Bears drafted Justin Fields.
    — Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
  • Here are details on the puffs to please, and the sad fails best left on the shelf.
    — Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 4 June 2024
  • Rich, warm woods and shelves lined with books are in the DNA of dark academia decor.
    — Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Joe took out the trash, delivered parts, ran the counter and stocked the shelves.
    — Sarah Gish, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024
  • Then the pandemic hit, and so the idea was put on the shelf for a year.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Dec. 2022
  • But now there are no books and no shelves and no beach road.
    — Mosab Abu Toha, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
  • And yes, my awards shelf is very nice, but there’s so much more to do.
    — Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 8 June 2024
  • Its next job will be to package and roll it off the shelf for years to come.
    — Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2023
  • Once the space is empty, wipe the shelves and vacuum the floor.
    — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2023
  • This picture frame looks straight off of a thrift store shelf.
    — Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2024
  • Grab a beach read from the shelf of staff favorites — always a good bet.
    — Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2024
  • There were shelves laden with thousands of small sake jars.
    — Siddhartha Mitter, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2024
  • The sturdy lower shelf holds two stacks of about 15 books each.
    — New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
  • The officer was unable to find the book on the classroom shelves.
    — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2023
  • What books are being banned or removed off the shelf in Iowa?
    — John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 7 June 2024
  • The two-tier shelf is a space saver but the white and gold design looks premium.
    — Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024
  • There would be shelves and rows of just the tail, just the tongue, just different finger parts.
    — William Earl, Variety, 17 Aug. 2024
  • For a sumptuous look, paint your shelves in a bold hue with a high gloss sheen.
    — Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2023
  • About three hours into the meeting, the board voted quickly to keep the two books on the shelves of high schools.
    — CNN, 3 Feb. 2024
  • In a nearby liquor store, bottles shimmied off their shelves and smashed to the floor.
    — David L. Stern, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2024
  • Keep milk in the coldest part of your fridge, usually in the back of the bottom shelf, to help it last longer.
    — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2023
  • There’s a side shelf that can hold up to 20 pounds and a lid cradle that keeps your lid tucked away when not in use.
    — Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2023
  • Remove the drawers and shelves to clean all the hidden surfaces and the door gasket.
    — Alicia Chilton, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2023
  • Behind him were rows of empty shelves in the dairy, showcasing how much cheese was taken.
    — Gabriella Rudy, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Wendy Goodman The skull on the shelf: Booth was given the skull by his father, Junius, also an actor, who at one time shared a jail cell with a horse thief who was hanged.
    — Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 31 Oct. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shelf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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