stockpile

stock·pile | \ ˈstäk-ˌpī(-ə)l

How to pronounce stockpile (audio)

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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

stockpiled; stockpiling; stockpiles

Definition of stockpile (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to place or store in or on a stockpile

2 : to accumulate a stockpile of a country suspected of stockpiling weapons

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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 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 Of all the stockpiles of talent Alabama has had over the last decade, having Hurts backup Tua at quarterback last season was the most obscene. — Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, "Don’t forget about Alabama’s most important position," 14 Aug. 2019 More than a decade later, The Oregonian/OregonLive found that untested kits more than doubled despite the public promises by police leaders to eliminate the stockpile after the girl’s death. — oregonlive.com, "Victims of sexual assault in Portland can track status of their evidence kits online," 23 July 2019 And this trade, when completed, will mean that Thunder general manager Sam Presti has added seven first-round picks to the team’s stockpile in the last week or so. — Tim Reynolds, baltimoresun.com, "Thunder trade Russell Westbrook to Rockets for Chris Paul, picks in another NBA blockbuster," 12 July 2019 And this trade, when completed, will mean Thunder general manager Sam Presti has added eight first-round picks to the team’s stockpile in the last week or so. — Tim Reynolds, chicagotribune.com, "Russell Westbrook will reunite with James Harden on the Rockets after the Thunder trade the former MVP for Chris Paul and picks," 11 July 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb 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 Over the summer, Harris kept up an aggressive fundraising schedule to stockpile the cash needed to build up her operation in early states. — Brian Slodysko, Twin Cities, "Sanders raises $25.3M in 3rd quarter, but Trump swamps all," 1 Oct. 2019 The strategy is a bit of a pivot from 54gene’s initial plans to stockpile DNA by going straight to consumers. — Wired, "The Massive, Overlooked Potential of African DNA," 1 Oct. 2019 Over the summer, Harris kept up an aggressive fundraising schedule to stockpile the cash needed to build up her operation in early states. — Brian Slodysko, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Sanders raises $25.3M in 3rd quarter, but Trump swamps all," 1 Oct. 2019 Several of the directors in favor of raising the tax rate cited the need to stockpile funds for the unknown outcome of a structural assessment expected to occur in 2020. — Jeff Forward, Houston Chronicle, "Woodlands Fire Station No. 5 to be examined after damage issues continue to surface," 26 Sep. 2019

These 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.

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Last Updated

19 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Stockpile.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stockpiling. Accessed 21 November 2019.

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