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
Trump had managed to stave off immediate collection by posting a $175 million bond earlier this year.
—
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Nobody tapped out during episode 9, and Alone Africa’s three remaining participants—Nathan, Kelsey, and Katie—performed the daily ritual of pursuing food, purifying water, and staving off hunger.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 18 Aug. 2025
The win staved off a four-game sweep by the American League Central Division leaders.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Shohei Ohtani waving his team back to the dugout after a seemingly retaliatory pitch from Robert Suarez likely staved off another brouhaha.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
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Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Nobody tapped out during episode 9, and Alone Africa’s three remaining participants—Nathan, Kelsey, and Katie—performed the daily ritual of pursuing food, purifying water, and staving off hunger.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 18 Aug. 2025
The win staved off a four-game sweep by the American League Central Division leaders.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Shohei Ohtani waving his team back to the dugout after a seemingly retaliatory pitch from Robert Suarez likely staved off another brouhaha.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 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 28 Aug. 2025.
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