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

Khamenei staved off that adjustment for nearly four decades through force of will, brutality, and the conviction that bending would mean breaking. —Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026

Horror-movie series thrive on familiarity, tweaked just enough to stave off contempt but similar enough to push the same thrill-seeking buttons. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026

It's made with a contoured footbed to provide better arch support, a deep heel cup for more stability, and shock-absorbing cushioning to stave off foot fatigue. —Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026

Underpaid lecturers huddled closer to their space heaters, submerging themselves deeper in Aramaic love poetry to stave off thoughts of the damp. —Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 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