stave

verb

staved or stove ˈstōv  ; staving

transitive verb

1

: to smash a hole in

stove in the boat

also : to crush or break inward

staved in several ribs

2

: to break in the staves of (a cask)

3

: to drive or thrust away

intransitive verb

1

: to walk or move rapidly

2

archaic : to become stove in

—used of a boat or ship

Examples of stave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Henkel and Standage staved it off twice before Cal came out on top, 18-16. —Daily News, 1 May 2026

Other variables in the collection included entry proof, char level, stave seasoning, and warehouse style. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026

The end had come, there was no staving it off any longer. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026

Rumors of liquidation circulated — in the middle of the NBA and NHL seasons — but Main Street has so far been able to stave that off. —Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1595, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing stave

• stave in
• stave off

Rhymes for stave

• brave
• cave
• clave
• crave
• fave
• gave
• grave
• knave
• lave
• nave
• pave
• rave

Kids Definition

stave

1 of 2 noun

ˈstāv 

1

: a wooden stick

2

: one of the narrow strips of wood or iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel (as a barrel or cask) or structure

3

: stanza

4

: staff entry 1 sense 3

stave

2 of 2 verb

staved or stove ˈstōv  ; staving

1

: to break in the staves of (a cask)

2

: to smash a hole in

stave in a boat