stock·pile
ˈstäk-ˌpī(-ə)l 
: a storage pile: such as
a
: a reserve supply of something essential accumulated within a country for use during a shortage
b
: a gradually accumulated reserve of something
avert stockpiles of unsold cars—
Bert Pierce
Bert Pierce
stockpiled; stockpiling; stockpiles
1
: to place or store in or on a stockpile
2
: to accumulate a stockpile of
a country suspected of stockpiling weapons
stockpiler
noun
Synonyms
Examples of stockpile in a Sentence
Noun
a stockpile of medical supplies
an emergency stockpile of potable water and canned goods in the cellar
Verb
The government stockpiled vaccines to prepare for a flu epidemic.
we should be able to stockpile enough vaccine for the upcoming flu season
Recent Examples on the WebAndrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The facility is operated by manufacturing and technology giant Honeywell International Inc. and builds many non-nuclear parts for the nation’s nuclear stockpile.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024
In exchange for sanctions relief, Iran also agreed to intrusive monitoring and inspections and to tight limits on its total uranium stockpile, ensuring that Tehran could not accumulate enough enriched uranium to produce even a single bomb.
—Joby Warrick, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Tesla is taking a buzzsaw to the price of its best-selling Model Y electric crossover in an attempt to clear out its biggest-ever inventory stockpile.
—Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2024
The Pentagon then drew from U.S. stockpiles to send those quickly to Israel.
—Edward Wong, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
These hydrocarbon stockpiles surpass our oil and gas reserves several hundredfold.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024
In rare instances, the federal government has created stockpiles of drugs considered key to public health.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 4 Mar. 2024
Proper resources would allow the EU to procure and stockpile ammunition and buy new aircraft fleets—all without needing to formally change the Lisbon Treaty, which essentially serves as the union’s constitution.
—Max Bergmann, Foreign Affairs, 21 Mar. 2024
Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
People built bomb shelters in their backyards and stockpiled Spam and Geiger counters.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
The best friends and co-owners of Luna’s Shaved Ice have stockpiled 25,000 of their frozen fruit pops to sell for $3 apiece to visitors descending on Perryville, Missouri, to watch Monday’s total solar eclipse.
—Harriet Baskas, NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Back in the living room of his Brooklyn apartment, crowded with art and rows of sci-fi and history books, White stockpiled more gear, including keyboards.
—Grayson Haver Currin, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Some of these individuals may have become radicalized and been in position to serve in a logistical function, stockpiling weapons, Mr. Clarke said.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia, Jr. Van Pran was a team captain for a two-time national champion, and stockpiled All-American accolades while in Athens.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024
The Rockies, however, did not sign any veteran relievers, choosing instead to stockpile pitchers via minor-league deals while counting on youngsters such as lefty Lucas Gilbreath and right-handers Victor Vodnik and Gavin Hollowell.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2024
The landfill is also stockpiling about 2 million gallons of this liquid waste in scores of metal storage containers on site.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
Noun
North Korea has sent Russia ballistic missiles and more than 2.5 million rounds of ammunition, just as Ukrainian stockpiles have dwindled.
—Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The facility is operated by manufacturing and technology giant Honeywell International Inc. and builds many non-nuclear parts for the nation’s nuclear stockpile.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024
In exchange for sanctions relief, Iran also agreed to intrusive monitoring and inspections and to tight limits on its total uranium stockpile, ensuring that Tehran could not accumulate enough enriched uranium to produce even a single bomb.
—Joby Warrick, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Tesla is taking a buzzsaw to the price of its best-selling Model Y electric crossover in an attempt to clear out its biggest-ever inventory stockpile.
—Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2024
The Pentagon then drew from U.S. stockpiles to send those quickly to Israel.
—Edward Wong, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
These hydrocarbon stockpiles surpass our oil and gas reserves several hundredfold.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024
In rare instances, the federal government has created stockpiles of drugs considered key to public health.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 4 Mar. 2024
Proper resources would allow the EU to procure and stockpile ammunition and buy new aircraft fleets—all without needing to formally change the Lisbon Treaty, which essentially serves as the union’s constitution.
—Max Bergmann, Foreign Affairs, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
Rainwater tends to stockpile on the edges of roads.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
People built bomb shelters in their backyards and stockpiled Spam and Geiger counters.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
The best friends and co-owners of Luna’s Shaved Ice have stockpiled 25,000 of their frozen fruit pops to sell for $3 apiece to visitors descending on Perryville, Missouri, to watch Monday’s total solar eclipse.
—Harriet Baskas, NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Back in the living room of his Brooklyn apartment, crowded with art and rows of sci-fi and history books, White stockpiled more gear, including keyboards.
—Grayson Haver Currin, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Some of these individuals may have become radicalized and been in position to serve in a logistical function, stockpiling weapons, Mr. Clarke said.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia, Jr. Van Pran was a team captain for a two-time national champion, and stockpiled All-American accolades while in Athens.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024
The Rockies, however, did not sign any veteran relievers, choosing instead to stockpile pitchers via minor-league deals while counting on youngsters such as lefty Lucas Gilbreath and right-handers Victor Vodnik and Gavin Hollowell.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2024
The landfill is also stockpiling about 2 million gallons of this liquid waste in scores of metal storage containers on site.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stockpile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Stockpile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stockpile. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
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