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.
The architect Sara Zewde sits on a bookshelf stacked with design and architecture literature. Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2025 Then stack the cases on a bookshelf or inside a cabinet, like a TV console. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2025 People from art department will go by and photograph every book on a bookshelf. Max Kutner, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025 Today, the staircase to nowhere is their mini library, lined with bookshelves. Jane Margolies, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near bookshelf

Cite this Entry

“Bookshelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookshelf. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bookshelf

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!