shelves

verb

present tense third-person singular of shelve
as in delays
to assign to a later time let's shelve the project for now

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of shelves Clean the wood cabinet doors monthly and the interior shelves every three to six months. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026 The result was a fun cameo arc that ends on the image of Scorsese breaking down in tears after Matt shelves the iconic director’s dream project to save his own job — a turn that earned Scorsese his first acting nomination. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelves
  1. delays
  2. postpones
  3. holds over
Verb
  • Unexcused absences in three consecutive elections freeze tax IDs, block nonvoters from applying to state jobs, hinders loans from state banks, and delays the issuance of passports.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • One medium-sized apple has 4 grams of fiber, including soluble fiber, which delays sugar absorption into the bloodstream.
    — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of delays
Verb
  • The injury postpones any plans to send the 20-year-old out on loan.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Or someone managing diabetes who postpones a preventive visit because grocery shopping, prescription pickups, and coordinating multiple specialists compete for limited time and energy.
    — Aimée K. Dailey, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of postpones
Verb
  • His phone holds over 11,000 voice memos, many of them musical ideas.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Pacific time, It will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which holds over 100,000 spectators.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of holds over

Browse Nearby Words

shelved
shelves
shelving
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Cite this Entry

“Shelves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelves. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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