bookshelf

noun

book·​shelf ˈbu̇k-ˌshelf How to pronounce bookshelf (audio)
: an open shelf for holding books

Examples of bookshelf in a Sentence

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.
In an adjacent room is a lounge space with emerald panels, oak bookshelves and velvet couches. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2026 Don’t forget the very top of the bookshelf, where dust tends to accumulate. Sunshine Flint, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026 Folding bookshelves are designed to be easily collapsed and stored away when not in use. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026 My co-host, Tyler Austin Harper, sits in front of a bookshelf in his home office. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bookshelf

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bookshelf was in 1648

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Cite this Entry

“Bookshelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookshelf. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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