shelter in place

American

[shel-ter in pleys] / ˈʃɛl tər ɪn ˈpleɪs /

Or shelter-in-place

noun

an official order, issued during an emergency, that directs people to stay in the indoor place or building that they already occupy and not to leave unless absolutely necessary.

verb (used without object)

to stay in a safe indoor place or building during an emergency.

If police believe there is an active shooter on campus, they will order students and faculty to shelter in place.

Etymology

Origin of shelter in place

First recorded in 1975–80

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.

The UK Foreign Office has urged British nationals - so far more than 100,000 Britons have registered their presence in the Middle East - to follow local advice, which in most countries was to shelter in place.

From BBC

She urged people to follow local advice, which in most countries was to shelter in place.

From BBC

The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE and said that British nationals in those countries should shelter in place.

From BBC

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has urged Irish citizens to adopt a "shelter in place" strategy.

From BBC

Britain urged UK citizens in the Gulf region to "shelter in place", and the US mission in Jordan urged citizens to stay away from the embassy, and in Bahrain told them to avoid hotels after one was damaged in a strike.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023