stave off
verb
staved off; staving off; staves off
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
Having Jennings at their disposal on offense should certainly go a long way in San Francisco's attempt to stave off an upset attempt from the Browns, who seem to have new life with Shedeur Sanders under center.
—
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Their work builds on previous studies which found that diamond, besides being incredibly hard and chemically stable, can also stave off bacterial growth.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2025
For those with disabilities or sensory issues, the festival is wheelchair accessible, has quiet areas, and plans a dedicated Sensory Friendly Night to help stave off overstimulation.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2025
By Bay City News Boat launches at two East Bay Municipal Utility District reservoirs will reopen in 2026 on a limited basis, following a yearlong closure aimed to stave off the invasive golden mussel.
—Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
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Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Their work builds on previous studies which found that diamond, besides being incredibly hard and chemically stable, can also stave off bacterial growth.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2025
For those with disabilities or sensory issues, the festival is wheelchair accessible, has quiet areas, and plans a dedicated Sensory Friendly Night to help stave off overstimulation.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2025
By Bay City News Boat launches at two East Bay Municipal Utility District reservoirs will reopen in 2026 on a limited basis, following a yearlong closure aimed to stave off the invasive golden mussel.
—Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Cite this Entry
“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stave%20off. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.
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