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 small lights can sit atop a nightstand, an end table, or a bookshelf for a late-night sense of direction. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 18 Sep. 2025 Layering is one of the best design tricks for creating a beautiful, visually appealing display, whether styling a bookshelf or decorating your front porch for fall. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025 In her post, Williams, 43, poses in front of bookshelves in a red, body-skimming dress. Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025 The animatronic Death Eater crouching on a bookshelf casts a spell, then Dolores Umbridge appears on a screen, then a rhinoceros-like Erumpent tries to gore the riders with its horn. Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Bookshelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookshelf. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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