shelter

1 of 2

noun

shel·​ter ˈshel-tər 

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.

shelterless

ˈshel-tər-ləs 

adjective

shelter

2 of 2

verb

sheltered; sheltering ˈshel-t(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to take shelter

shelterer

ˈshel-tər-ər 

noun

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

These 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)

Synonyms

Noun

• asylum
• bolt-hole [chiefly British]
• harbor
• harborage
• haven
• refuge
• retreat
• sanctuary
• sanctum

Verb

• harbor
• refuge

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

Noun

On some days, as many as 40 to 60 rockets were dropped during production and the team were forced to spend lots of time in bomb shelters, Masucci explained. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2025

For years, the risk of jeopardizing shelter has been a reason for why some residents resist filing complaints — especially in an affordable housing crisis. —Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025

Verb

As guests sheltered in place, Omni employees snapped into action. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025

Small, maneuverable and impossible to jam, Russia’s best fiber-optic drones can—in the hands of skilled operators—slip into the buildings and dugouts sheltering Ukrainian vehicles. —David Axe, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1590, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing shelter

• fallout shelter
• find/take shelter
• shelter half
• shelter in place
• shelter tent
• tax shelter

Rhymes for shelter

• belter
• melter
• skelter
• smelter
• spelter
• welter

Kids 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