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
Bert Pierce
stockpiled; stockpiling; stockpiles
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
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 WebMax Bergmann, Foreign Affairs, 21 Mar. 2024
While most of us store our plastic wrap in a drawer next to the aluminum foil, parchment paper, and stockpile of reusable silicone bags.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2024
The vast majority of those munitions have come from Army stockpiles due to the nature of the conventional land war in Ukraine.
—CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024
In 2018, confronting shortages of various drugs to treat tuberculosis, the CDC created a small stockpile of them.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 4 Mar. 2024
President Biden authorized Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday to provide up to $10 million worth of weapons, ammunition, bullet-proof vests and helmets from a Department of Homeland Security stockpile to the Haiti National Police.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
The Czech Republic has been leading a buyers’ group with other E.U. allies and has already secured 300,000 shells for Ukraine as its stockpiles run dangerously low.
—Monika Pronczuk, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Iran reduced the quantity of near weapons-grade uranium by mixing 31.8 kilograms of the stockpile with uranium enriched to a much lower level, around 2%, according to the report.
—Adam Pourahmadi, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024
Japan has the shortest path to developing nuclear weapons, boasting both its own facilities for processing nuclear fuel and what is likely the world’s largest plutonium stockpile.
—Andrew S. Erickson, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2024
Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
People built bomb shelters in their backyards and stockpiled Spam and Geiger counters.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
The best friends and co-owners of Luna’s Shaved Ice have stockpiled 25,000 of their frozen fruit pops to sell for $3 apiece to visitors descending on Perryville, Missouri, to watch Monday’s total solar eclipse.
—Harriet Baskas, NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Back in the living room of his Brooklyn apartment, crowded with art and rows of sci-fi and history books, White stockpiled more gear, including keyboards.
—Grayson Haver Currin, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Some of these individuals may have become radicalized and been in position to serve in a logistical function, stockpiling weapons, Mr. Clarke said.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia, Jr. Van Pran was a team captain for a two-time national champion, and stockpiled All-American accolades while in Athens.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024
The Rockies, however, did not sign any veteran relievers, choosing instead to stockpile pitchers via minor-league deals while counting on youngsters such as lefty Lucas Gilbreath and right-handers Victor Vodnik and Gavin Hollowell.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2024
The landfill is also stockpiling about 2 million gallons of this liquid waste in scores of metal storage containers on site.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
Noun
Proper resources would allow the EU to procure and stockpile ammunition and buy new aircraft fleets—all without needing to formally change the Lisbon Treaty, which essentially serves as the union’s constitution.
—Max Bergmann, Foreign Affairs, 21 Mar. 2024
While most of us store our plastic wrap in a drawer next to the aluminum foil, parchment paper, and stockpile of reusable silicone bags.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2024
The vast majority of those munitions have come from Army stockpiles due to the nature of the conventional land war in Ukraine.
—CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024
In 2018, confronting shortages of various drugs to treat tuberculosis, the CDC created a small stockpile of them.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 4 Mar. 2024
President Biden authorized Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday to provide up to $10 million worth of weapons, ammunition, bullet-proof vests and helmets from a Department of Homeland Security stockpile to the Haiti National Police.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
The Czech Republic has been leading a buyers’ group with other E.U. allies and has already secured 300,000 shells for Ukraine as its stockpiles run dangerously low.
—Monika Pronczuk, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Iran reduced the quantity of near weapons-grade uranium by mixing 31.8 kilograms of the stockpile with uranium enriched to a much lower level, around 2%, according to the report.
—Adam Pourahmadi, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024
Japan has the shortest path to developing nuclear weapons, boasting both its own facilities for processing nuclear fuel and what is likely the world’s largest plutonium stockpile.
—Andrew S. Erickson, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2024
Verb
Rainwater tends to stockpile on the edges of roads.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
People built bomb shelters in their backyards and stockpiled Spam and Geiger counters.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
The best friends and co-owners of Luna’s Shaved Ice have stockpiled 25,000 of their frozen fruit pops to sell for $3 apiece to visitors descending on Perryville, Missouri, to watch Monday’s total solar eclipse.
—Harriet Baskas, NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Back in the living room of his Brooklyn apartment, crowded with art and rows of sci-fi and history books, White stockpiled more gear, including keyboards.
—Grayson Haver Currin, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Some of these individuals may have become radicalized and been in position to serve in a logistical function, stockpiling weapons, Mr. Clarke said.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia, Jr. Van Pran was a team captain for a two-time national champion, and stockpiled All-American accolades while in Athens.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024
The Rockies, however, did not sign any veteran relievers, choosing instead to stockpile pitchers via minor-league deals while counting on youngsters such as lefty Lucas Gilbreath and right-handers Victor Vodnik and Gavin Hollowell.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2024
The landfill is also stockpiling about 2 million gallons of this liquid waste in scores of metal storage containers on site.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stockpile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Stockpile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stockpile. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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