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

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
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.
Many of the best water bottles aren’t dishwasher safe, so having a cleaning tool that can really get up in there is the best way to stave off the water bottle nasties. Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 3 Dec. 2024 Cyber Monday 2024 Deals Best Cyber Monday deals for holiday shoppers Top holiday discounts under $100 Apple products marked down for Cyber Monday sales Congress has until Dec. 20 to pass legislation to stave off a government funding lapse. Aris Folley, The Hill, 2 Dec. 2024 The company has entered self-administration to undergo a restructuring process in an attempt to stave off bankruptcy. New Atlas, 1 Dec. 2024 That might be why Bieber uses the ointment to stave off crusty, dry lips. Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stave off 

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stave off was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near stave off

Cite this Entry

“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stave%20off. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

stave off

verb
: to force or keep away : fend off
stave off trouble

More from Merriam-Webster on stave off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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