stockpile

1 of 2

noun

stock·​pile ˈstäk-ˌpī(-ə)l 

: a storage pile: such as

a

: a reserve supply of something essential accumulated within a country for use during a shortage

b

: a gradually accumulated reserve of something

avert stockpiles of unsold cars

—Bert Pierce

stockpile

2 of 2

verb

stockpiled; stockpiling; stockpiles

transitive verb

1

: to place or store in or on a stockpile

2

: to accumulate a stockpile of

a country suspected of stockpiling weapons

stockpiler noun

Synonyms

Noun

• cache
• hoard
• stash
• store

Verb

• cache
• hoard
• lay away
• lay by
• lay in
• lay up
• put by
• salt away
• squirrel (away)
• stash
• store
• stow
• treasure

Examples of stockpile in a Sentence

Noun

a stockpile of medical supplies

an emergency stockpile of potable water and canned goods in the cellar

Verb

The government stockpiled vaccines to prepare for a flu epidemic.

we should be able to stockpile enough vaccine for the upcoming flu season

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The plant, operated by technology giant Honeywell International Inc., assembles many non-nuclear parts for the nation’s nuclear stockpile. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2024

An inadequate national stockpile The issues are multifold. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 24 June 2024

Verb

Many users stockpile rewards on the cards to put toward free travel and lodging. —Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 10 July 2024

Analysts estimate Hezbollah has between 130,000 and 150,000 rockets and missiles, more than four times as many as its ally Hamas was believed to have stockpiled before the war in Gaza. —Samuel Granados, Washington Post, 10 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1872, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

stockpile

noun

stock·​pile

ˈstäk-ˌpīl

: an extra supply especially of something necessary accumulated within a country for use during a shortage

stockpile verb