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.
This was one for those who had suffered the most difficult days in the club’s history — two administrations, defeats in two previous cup finals, desperately staving off relegation from the second tier on the final day when going down would have put the club’s future in grave peril. Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 19 May 2025 Two of his listeners draped large towels over their heads to stave off the elements. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2025 By the late 1970s, a recovery effort was launched to stave off extinction. Megan Ross, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025 The series shifts back to Washington for Game 5 on Thursday, with the Eastern Conference’s top seed working to stave off elimination and the Hurricanes aiming for a second trip to the conference final in three seasons. Aaron Beard, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stave%20off. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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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