stave off

verb

staved off; staving off; staves off

transitive verb

1
: to fend off
staving off creditors
2
: to ward off (something adverse) : forestall
trying to stave off disaster

Examples of stave off in a Sentence

managed to stave off the invaders the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After that, even aggressive tax hikes or spending cuts may not be enough to stave off default — implicit or otherwise. Leslie Picker, CNBC, 7 July 2025 The present-day Yankees look to rebound against the Mets on Sunday afternoon, when ace Max Fried (10-2, 2.13 ERA) will try to stave off a Subway Series sweep in Queens. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025 Subramanian staved off the identity-politics hysteria. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 3 July 2025 The Fed has the necessary resources to stave off a possible cyberattack, according to Powell. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for stave off

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stave off was in 1611

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stave%20off. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

stave off

verb
: to force or keep away : fend off
stave off trouble

More from Merriam-Webster on stave off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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