stockpile

1 of 2

noun

stock·​pile ˈstäk-ˌpī(-ə)l How to pronounce stockpile (audio)
Synonyms of stockpilenext
: 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

stockpile

2 of 2

verb

stockpiled; stockpiling; stockpiles

transitive verb

1
: to place or store in or on a stockpile
2
: to accumulate a stockpile of
a country suspected of stockpiling weapons
stockpiler noun

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 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.
Noun
Worse still, Britain's kerosene stockpiles are very low — just one month's worth of supplies — compared with most of the rest of the world. Ian King, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026 But the Iran war drains stockpiles of advanced air defense missiles that Ukraine needs, and Kyiv’s money is running short. ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
Rainwater tends to stockpile on the edges of roads. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026 Through that roster transition, Sullivan clearly wants Achane to see the other side of it, when the Dolphins could be serious contenders again after stockpiling multiple draft classes and being aggressive in free agency once again after taking on a record $179 million in dead money in 2026. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stockpile

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1872, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stockpile was in 1872

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Cite this Entry

“Stockpile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stockpile. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

stockpile

noun
stock·​pile
ˈstäk-ˌpīl
: an extra supply especially of something necessary accumulated within a country for use during a shortage
stockpile verb

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