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
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
Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Unpredictability and unilateralism are not desirable traits for a superpower with the second-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2026
Robert Ferris, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
The Steelers have been stockpiling draft capital with the goal of moving up in either the 2026 or 2027 draft to land their future quarterback.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stockpile
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Noun
While oil stockpiles fell a little, supplies are still close to normal for this time of year — which is helping prevent sudden jumps in prices at the pump, according to AAA.
—Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Unpredictability and unilateralism are not desirable traits for a superpower with the second-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
Batteries can fill the gap by collecting and stockpiling electricity to use at another time or sell it back to the grid.
—Robert Ferris, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
The Steelers have been stockpiling draft capital with the goal of moving up in either the 2026 or 2027 draft to land their future quarterback.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stockpile
Cite this Entry
“Stockpile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stockpile. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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