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

Synonyms of stave off

• repel
• resist
• turn back
• fend (off)
• turn away
• repulse
• beat off

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

Amid the dispute, some concerts at the Barn have continued, but several Helm Family Midnight Ramble shows — a special concert series that Helm himself launched in 2004 to stave off foreclosure — have been postponed. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026

An infusion of new funds approved by Congress this year and a waiver of eligibility procedures have staved off a potential crisis that would have left 4,200 back on the street. — Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Worse still, war tends to increase inflation (as is currently happening) and increase debt, which pushes central banks of big economies to raise rates to stave off overheating, slowing down overall growth in those countries. — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026

Like many projects, Ultra Lights began as a way for singer-songwriter John Robinson to stave off pandemic boredom. — Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stave off

• cerenkov
• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff

Kids Definition

stave off

verb

: to force or keep away : fend off

stave off trouble