plural shelters
1
a
: something that covers or affords protection
a bomb shelter
We made a shelter from branches.
see also fallout shelter, tax shelter
b
: an establishment providing food, protection, and temporary housing for people who need assistance
a shelter for battered women
shelters for the unhoused
c
: an establishment that houses and feeds stray or unwanted animals
a no-kill shelter
2
: a position or the state of being covered and protected (as from bad weather or danger)
We ran for shelter when the rain started.
The hikers took shelter in an abandoned cabin.
sheltered; sheltering
ˈshel-t(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to constitute or provide a shelter for : protect
has led a sheltered life
2
: to place under shelter or protection
sheltered himself in a mountain cave
3
: to protect (income) from taxation
: to take shelter
Phrases
shelter in place
: to remain inside in one's current location until a danger has passed : to temporarily take shelter in a protected space
The … campus was placed under lockdown in response to the shooting. People on campus were advised to shelter in place. No students were hurt or endangered, the school said.—
Julia Jacobo
Julia JacoboThese communities—including our own—need to start hardening themselves against future fires. That means preparing homes for fires the way we already do for earthquakes and floods. It also means developing better alert systems, heeding evacuation warnings when they come and being prepared to shelter in place when escape routes are cut off …—The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California)
The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California)Examples of shelter in a Sentence
Noun
We made a shelter from branches.
a shelter for battered women
The organization provides food and shelter for homeless people.
The crowd ran for shelter when the rain started.
They sought shelter from the storm.
Verb
A cave sheltered the climbers during the storm.
They sheltered in a cave while they waited for the storm to pass.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Earlier this year, the star launched an emergency fund and donated $100,000 to victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, and also volunteered at an animal shelter to help cats and dogs that were affected by the natural disaster.
—Nicholas Rice, People.com, 10 May 2025
Ayesha Jalal, The Conversation, 8 May 2025
These accounts have significant tax advantages: Your investment earnings are sheltered from taxes while your savings are growing.
—Steve Vernon, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shelter
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Even Hayek and Friedman talked confidently about a flat 25 percent income tax—as if Andrew Mellon, who had unmatched wisdom on this score, was incorrect that any rate over 10 percent prompts the full menace of flows into economically unproductive shelters.
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Earlier this year, the star launched an emergency fund and donated $100,000 to victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, and also volunteered at an animal shelter to help cats and dogs that were affected by the natural disaster.
—Nicholas Rice, People.com, 10 May 2025
Verb
On that occasion, the international community swung behind India, with the U.S. offering counterterrorism support while calling on Pakistan to stop sheltering terrorists.
—Ayesha Jalal, The Conversation, 8 May 2025
These accounts have significant tax advantages: Your investment earnings are sheltered from taxes while your savings are growing.
—Steve Vernon, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shelter
Cite this Entry
“Shelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelter. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shelter
1 of 2 noun
shel·ter
ˈshel-tər
1
a
: something that covers or protects
an air raid shelter
a fallout shelter
b
: a place that provides food and lodging (as to the homeless)
c
: a place that houses and feeds stray or unwanted animals
2
: the state of being protected
take shelter from a storm
shelter
2 of 2 verb
sheltered; sheltering
-t(ə-)riŋ
1
: to be a shelter for : provide with shelter
2
: to find and use a shelter
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