shelve

UK: /ˈʃɛlv/ US: /ʃɛlv/ ,(shelv)

Inflections of 'shelve' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

shelves

v 3rd person singular

shelving

v pres p

shelved

v past

shelved

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

shelve¹ /ʃɛlv/   v. [~ + object] , shelved, shelv•ing. 

1. to place on a shelf:
   to shelve the books.
2. to put aside;
   defer:
   to shelve a question.
3. to remove from active use or service;
   dismiss:
   The pitcher was shelved because he lost so many ballgames.
4. to furnish with shelves.

shelv•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

shelve¹  (shelv), v.t., shelved, shelv•ing. 

1. to place (something) on a shelf or shelves.
2. to put off or aside from consideration:
   to shelve the question.
3. to remove from active use or service;
   dismiss.
4. to furnish with shelves.

• verb, verbal use of shelve(s) 1585–95

shelv′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. . defer, table, pigeonhole.

shelve²  (shelv), v.i., shelved, shelv•ing. 

1. to slope gradually.

• 1580–90; origin, originally uncertain; compare Frisian skelf not quite level

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

shelve / ʃɛlv/ verb (transitive)

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

Etymology: 16th Century: from shelves, plural of shelf

ˈshelver noun

shelve / ʃɛlv/ verb

1. (intransitive) to slope away gradually; incline

Etymology: 16th Century: origin uncertain