shelter in place

American  

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

Or shelter-in-place

noun

1. 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.

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verb (used without object)

1. 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

Early on, residents of the area surrounding the warehouse in Boyle Heights, a diverse neighborhood in east Los Angeles, were warned to shelter in place, close windows and avoid breathing the air.

From Barron's • Jun. 21, 2026

Officials urged people in the area to shelter in place near the mosque at 7050 Eckstrom Avenue.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Embassy in Kuwait, after suspending operations Tuesday and previously advising Americans in Kuwait to shelter in place.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Some Western embassy staff in Riyadh meanwhile were told to shelter in place, diplomatic sources said, following an attack on the US embassy compound earlier this week.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

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

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026