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Dictionary.com
Definitions

on the shelf

ADJECTIVE
broken
Synonyms
STRONGEST
busted defective faulty ruined wrecked
STRONG
dead disabled down gone out shot spent wracked
WEAK
coming unstuck fallen apart feeble gone to pieces haywire imperfect in disrepair in need of repair in the shop inoperable inoperative kaput not functioning on the blink on the fritz out of commission out of kilter out of order out of whack run down screwed-up unsatisfactory weak
Antonyms
STRONGEST
perfect repaired
WEAK
fixed working
ADJECTIVE
deferred
Synonyms
STRONGEST
delayed negotiated postponed
STRONG
adjourned assessed charged pigeonholed prolonged protracted remanded renegotiated scrubbed stalled temporized
WEAK
held up in waiting indebted on hold staved off
Antonyms
WEAK
advanced forwarded furthered hastened hurried
ADJECTIVE
dormant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
asleep comatose inert inoperative latent passive sidelined sluggish
WEAK
abeyant closed-down down fallow hibernating lethargic lurking out of action potential prepatent quiescent slack slumbering smoldering suspended torpid
Antonyms
STRONGEST
active alert awake conscious lively
ADJECTIVE
on the blink
Synonyms
WEAK
bonkers broken busted defective disabled down fallen apart faulty gone to pieces haywire in disrepair in need of repair in the shop inoperable kaput kerflooey not functioning not working on the fritz out out of commission out of kilter out of order out of whack run down shot spent wrecked
ADJECTIVE
unemployed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
idle inactive jobless underemployed
STRONG
down free loafing
WEAK
at liberty between jobs closed-down disengaged fired laid-off leisured on layoff on the bench on the dole out of a job out of action out of work resting unapplied unengaged unexercised unoccupied unused without gainful employment workless
Antonyms
STRONGEST
active busy working
WEAK
employed occupied

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“If it sits on the shelf because at that moment I don’t have a student who needs that mirror, that’s where it stays until I do.”

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

“We need more ASAP, what more do you have on the shelf, what can you get to me?,” the official asked Pinl.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

"These will not have impact on the price of the good on the shelf," the official insisted.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

As well as affecting prices at the pump, if higher fuel costs persist they could have further knock-on effects on the prices of goods on the shelf.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

She stood in the bathroom and combed her hair, then she padded to the kitchen pantry and pulled out a dime-sized lump of brown sugar from the sack on the shelf.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez