plural stacks
1
: a usually neat pile : a group of things that are put one on top of the other
He had arranged the letters in stacks.
She took a magazine from near the top of the stack.
—often + ofa stack of dishes/papers
2
: a large amount of something
—usually + of
There is a stack of evidence against her.
They have stacks of money.
3
: a tall chimney on a factory, ship, etc., for carrying smoke away : smokestack
4
: the rows of shelves where books are stored in a library
I couldn't find the book in the stacks.
stacks; stacked; stacking
1
: to arrange (things) in a stack : to put (things) in a usually neat pile
She spent the afternoon splitting and stacking firewood.
She stacked the plates in the cupboard.
He stacked the books on the table.
—often + upShe stacked the wood up against the fence.
The chairs don't stack. [=the chairs cannot be put in a stack; the chairs cannot be stacked]
2
a
: to cheat at a card game by arranging (a deck of cards) in a special way
The other players accused him of stacking the deck.
b
—used to describe a situation in which one person, team, etc., is given an advantage over others often in a way that is unfair
In many ways, the cards are stacked against immigrants. [=immigrants face unfair and difficult circumstances]
There are things you can do to stack the odds in your favor. [=to make it more likely for you to win, succeed, etc.]
The odds are stacked against you. [=the odds are against you; you do not have a good or fair chance of winning, succeeding, etc.]
Cite this Entry
“Stack.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/stack. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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