stave off
verb
staved off; staving off; staves off
1
: to fend off
staving off creditors
2
: to ward off (something adverse) : forestall
trying to stave off disaster
Examples of stave off in a Sentence
managed to stave off the invaders
the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies
Recent Examples on the Web
If boundaries are the weak point, anticipate ways to stave off interruptions – for example, hanging a Do Not Disturb sign on your cubicle.
—
Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Even the outdoor waiting area, with a proper roof that actually staves off the hot sun, has uninterrupted ocean views, as do the sauna, steam room, and cold and hot plunge pools.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025
The move is intended to encourage more evening golf and to stave off efforts to establish permanent standard time, which would leave less time for an evening on the links.
—Margery A. Beck, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025
Rather than waiting to slide down the cognitive decline curve, people might consider tinkering with their metabolism to stave off their brain’s aging process or consider other strategies to combat cognitive decline.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Even the outdoor waiting area, with a proper roof that actually staves off the hot sun, has uninterrupted ocean views, as do the sauna, steam room, and cold and hot plunge pools.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025
The move is intended to encourage more evening golf and to stave off efforts to establish permanent standard time, which would leave less time for an evening on the links.
—Margery A. Beck, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025
Rather than waiting to slide down the cognitive decline curve, people might consider tinkering with their metabolism to stave off their brain’s aging process or consider other strategies to combat cognitive decline.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Cite this Entry
“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stave%20off. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share