stack

1 of 2

noun

ˈstak 

plural stacks

1

: a large usually conical pile (as of hay, straw, or grain in the sheaf) left standing in the field for storage

2

a

: an orderly pile or heap

b

: a large quantity or number

3

: an English unit of measure especially for firewood that is equal to 108 cubic feet

4

a

: a number of flues embodied in one structure rising above a roof

b

: a vertical pipe (as to carry off smoke)

c

: the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine

5

a

: a structure of bookshelves for compact storage of books

—usually used in plural

b

stacks plural : a section of a building housing such structures

6

: a pile of poker chips

7

a

: a memory or a section of memory in a computer for temporary storage in which the last item stored is the first retrieved

also : a data structure that simulates a stack

a push-down stack

b

: a computer memory consisting of arrays of memory elements stacked one on top of another

stack

2 of 2

verb

stacked; stacking; stacks

transitive verb

1

a

: to arrange in a stack : pile

b

: to pile in or on

stacked the table with books

stack the dishwasher

2

a

: to arrange secretly for cheating

stack a deck of cards

b

: to arrange or fix so as to make a particular result likely

the odds are stacked against us

will stack juries to suit themselves

—Patrice Horn

3

a

: to assign (an airplane) by radio to a particular altitude and position within a group circling before landing

b

: to put into a waiting line

another dozen rigs are stacked up and waiting

—P. H. Hutchins, Jr.

4

: compare

—used with against

such a crime is nothing when stacked against a murder

—Pete Censky

intransitive verb

: to form a stack

stacker noun

Synonyms

Noun

• loads
• ton
• pile
• dozen
• plenty
• slew
• deal
• chunk
• bunch
• raft
• wealth
• quantity
• bundle
• lot

Verb

• pile

Examples of stack in a Sentence

Noun

He had arranged the letters in stacks.

She took a magazine from near the top of the stack.

Verb

She spent the afternoon splitting and stacking firewood.

She stacked the plates in the cupboard.

He stacked the books on the table.

The other players accused him of stacking the deck.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The end result was a stack of decisions deferring to Trump. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 28 June 2025

Simply stir the zingy horseradish sauce together, and stack layers of the cold cuts and fresh veggies to build a roast beef sandwich better than anything Publix can offer. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 28 June 2025

Verb

Indie Sleaze Returns in Full Force Fans of early 2000s and 2010s indie rock had their plates full this year, with a lineup stacked with bands that did numbers on Tumblr back in the day. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 30 June 2025

Middle Eastern shawarma is usually prepared with thin cuts of seasoned meat that is stacked and grilled on a spit. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stak, from Old Norse stakkr; akin to Russian stog stack and probably to Old English staca stake

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing stack

• blow one's stack
• chimney stack
• stack the odds against (someone)
• stack the odds in favor of (someone)
• stack the odds in someone's favor
• stack up

Rhymes for stack

• ack
• brack
• clack
• crack
• dak
• flack
• flak
• hack
• jack
• knack
• lac
• lack

Kids Definition

stack

1 of 2 noun

ˈstak 

1

: a large pile (as of hay, straw, or grain) usually shaped like a cone

2

a

: an orderly pile of objects usually one on top of the other

a stack of dishes

b

: a large number or amount

3

: chimney sense 1, smokestack

4

: a structure with shelves for storing books

—usually used in plural

stack

2 of 2 verb

: to arrange in or form a stack : pile

stacked the dishes on the table

stacker noun