continental shelf

noun

: a shallow submarine plain of varying width forming a border to a continent and typically ending in a comparatively steep slope to the deep ocean floor

Illustration of continental shelf

Illustration of continental shelf
  • 1 seashore
  • 2 continental shelf
  • 3 continental slope
  • 4 abyssal plain
  • 5 seamount

Examples of continental shelf 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.
What visitors don’t see is that just off the western coast, the continental shelf drops off to great depths. — Alan Crawford, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026 Their lineup drops off more steeply than a continental shelf, and their entire coaching staff is feeling the heat. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 Some adult females, outside of breeding season, travel far past the continental shelf to find food, while others stay close to land. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026 The continental shelf emerged as the most distinct feature, enduring through time and changing sea levels. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for continental shelf

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of continental shelf was in 1892

Rhymes for continental shelf

See All Rhymes for continental shelf

Browse Nearby Words

continental seating
continental shelf
continental slope
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Cite this Entry

“Continental shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continental%20shelf. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

continental shelf

noun
: a shallow submarine plain of varying width forming a border to a continent and typically ending at the continental slope

More from Merriam-Webster on continental shelf

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about continental shelf

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