Shelve

To shelve means to postpone or defer action on something, often temporarily. It can also mean to place an item on a shelf for storage or display, or to dismiss or reject a proposal or idea. The act of shelving suggests a conscious decision to put something aside for later consideration or permanent abandonment. The implication is often a delay in implementing a plan or dealing with a matter, possibly due to a lack of resources, changing priorities, or logistical challenges. The verb encapsulates the action of both physical placement and abstract postponement.

Shelve meaning with examples

• The project was shelved due to budget cuts; the company decided it wasn't fiscally viable at this time, so they put all the development plans aside until better economic circumstances arose. Management hopes to pick up the plans again sometime in the future. They put all the blueprints on hold.
• After receiving mixed reviews, the publisher decided to shelve the author's controversial manuscript. They stored the manuscript in a large warehouse, deciding to review it again in a few years, when social perspectives may have shifted regarding its controversial topics.
• The librarian told me to shelve the returned books in the appropriate section; she had to spend many hours replacing the books in their allocated slots, but now, all the books are where they should be.
• Due to unexpected complications, the committee voted to shelve the proposed legislation for further study; the legislators wanted more information before voting, and were advised not to vote on the plans.
• Despite initial enthusiasm, the committee had to shelve the idea of a new building as the fundraising goals were not met. The plans, though popular, were simply not achievable as they couldn't fund the idea. They put all plans on ice.