stave off
verb
staved off; staving off; staves off
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
Andover did well to stave off the Porkers in the first quarter despite heavy offensive pressure.
—
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
About one out of every seven California residents depends on CalFresh — the state’s branding for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — to stave off hunger.
—JosÉ Luis Villegas, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
However, something is being done to help stave off further damage.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
During Game 3 of the American League Division Series, Judge hit a game-tying, three-run rocket to stave off his team’s elimination by the Blue Jays.
—Steve Rushin, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
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Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
About one out of every seven California residents depends on CalFresh — the state’s branding for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — to stave off hunger.
—JosÉ Luis Villegas, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
However, something is being done to help stave off further damage.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
During Game 3 of the American League Division Series, Judge hit a game-tying, three-run rocket to stave off his team’s elimination by the Blue Jays.
—Steve Rushin, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Cite this Entry
“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stave%20off. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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