To save this word, you'll need to log in.
stock·pile | \ ˈstäk-ˌpī(-ə)l 
\
\Definition of stockpile
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
verbstockpiled; stockpiling; stockpiles
Definition of stockpile (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to place or store in or on a stockpile
2 : to accumulate a stockpile of
a country suspected of stockpiling weapons
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms for stockpile
Synonyms: Noun
Synonyms: 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
See More
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun By trading away players such as Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Dolphins have assembled a stockpile of draft picks for 2020 and 2021.
—
Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, "State NFL roundup: Oxford’s Bobby McCain helps Dolphins win again," 11 Nov. 2019 Over the past several months, Blucher has been amassing a stockpile of goods to bring to this year’s 35th annual Mount Dora Craft Fair, taking place downtown from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
—
Rosemarie Dowell, orlandosentinel.com, "Crafters hoping for nice weather, big crowds at Mount Dora Craft Fair," 20 Oct. 2019 On Monday, a major explosion rocked the city of Achinsk in Siberia after a fire detonated a 40,000 shell stockpile of munitions at a military storage facility.
—
Matthew Bodner, NBC News, "Blast at Russian military base kills 2 service members, injures 4 more, officials say," 8 Aug. 2019 But if there’s a huge stockpile of water in the transition zone, this story of water’s origin would have to change.
—
Quanta Magazine, "The Hunt for Earth’s Deep Hidden Oceans," 11 July 2018 In June its stockpile of low-enriched uranium exceeded the limit set under the agreement.
—
The Economist, "Iran’s nuclear programme takes a dangerous step," 7 Nov. 2019 Iran already has already surpassed stockpile limits and enrichment levels set by the deal.
—
Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY, "Iran reduces nuclear deal compliance, warns 'not much time left' to save accord," 17 Aug. 2019 The emergency stockpile is stored in huge underground salt caverns along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
—
Anchorage Daily News, "Saudi supply disruption puts huge U.S. petroleum stash in play," 15 Sep. 2019 Already, Iran has gone over the stockpile and enrichment limitations placed on it by the 2015 deal.
—
Washington Post, "The Latest: Iran, France race to save nuclear deal," 3 Sep. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Donations of food and supplies are being stockpiled at the Barnes Center, and the students have received visits from state and local lawmakers.
—
Laura Ly, CNN, "Syracuse students are camped out in a campus building to protest racist incidents. They want to 'feel seen'," 19 Nov. 2019 Growth in the first quarter was boosted by stockpiling ahead of the original March 29 Brexit deadline but separate figures Wednesday showed wide disparities between regions.
—
Andrew Atkinson, Bloomberg.com, "U.K. Company Insolvencies Rise to Highest Level Since 2014," 30 Oct. 2019 Miami leaders have openly talked about the expectation of hard times as the team follows a strategy of stockpiling picks in the next two drafts.
—
Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, "Alabama NFL roundup: Landon Collins, Redskins get first win in ‘Tua Bowl’," 14 Oct. 2019 And perhaps fans also felt the need to start stockpiling their displeasure early.
—
Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, "Fans’ anger with Raiders came as quickly as Chiefs’ second-quarter points," 15 Sep. 2019 These stockpiling rodents tend to only range 100 to 150 feet from their middens, collecting items from about a 50-foot radius.
—
Sadie Witkowski, Smithsonian, "From Ancient Seeds to Scraps of Clothing, Rats’ Nests Are Full of Treasures," 15 Nov. 2019 For someone spending the night outside, that weather can prove dangerous — particularly early in the winter, when outreach groups have had less time to stockpile supplies, and the homeless are still transitioning into the winter season.
—
Darcy Costello, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville's cold snap worries city, homeless advocates: 'It's going to be a challenge'," 11 Nov. 2019 Time to stockpile critical things like chips and so on under these temporary general licenses from the Commerce Department.
—
CBS News, "Transcript: Chris Johnson talks with Michael Morell on "Intelligence Matters"," 6 Nov. 2019 General managers are wheeling and dealing, making things interesting for contenders trying to add the missing piece and bottom-dwellers looking to stockpile draft picks.
—
Rob Maaddi, chicagotribune.com, "NFL is losing its reputation for boring trade deadlines," 26 Oct. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stockpile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for stockpile
stockpile
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of stockpile
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a large supply of something that is kept for future use
stockpile
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of stockpile (Entry 2 of 2)
: to get and keep a large supply of (something) for future use
See the full definition for stockpile in the English Language Learners Dictionary
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on stockpile
What made you want to look up stockpile? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Semantic Drift Quiz
- Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share stockpile
Time Traveler for stockpile
The first known use of stockpile was in 1872
See more words from the same year