Word
shelving
Phoneticsshelv·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃɛɫvɪŋ/
UK/ʃˈɛlvɪŋ/
Definition
v. to put something on a shelf. It is an old-fashioned way to describe organizing books or objects in a library or shop.
v. to place items on a shelf for storage or display. Archaic in modern usage; typically found in historical or literary contexts.
Examples
“The librarian was shelving the returned books.”
“Before the digital age, every book had to be manually shelving by the library staff.”
“The archivist spent the afternoon shelving the fragile manuscripts, ensuring each volume was placed in a climate-controlled compartment to prevent further deterioration.”
Examples
simple
“The librarian was shelving the returned books.”
contextual
“Before the digital age, every book had to be manually shelving by the library staff.”
complex
“The archivist spent the afternoon shelving the fragile manuscripts, ensuring each volume was placed in a climate-controlled compartment to prevent further deterioration.”
Real-World Examples
“Price cuts for British customers include the Kallax shelving unit going from £60 to £49 and the Billy bookcase being cut by £10 to £25.” “The White House last week signalled that Trump was shelving military measures in favour of a campaign to destroy the Iranian economy by enforcing sanctions .” Etymology
By surface analysis, shelve + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/shelving