stockpile

1 of 2

noun

stock·​pile ˈstäk-ˌpī(-ə)l How to pronounce stockpile (audio)
: 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 carsBert Pierce

stockpile

2 of 2

verb

stockpiled; stockpiling; stockpiles

transitive verb

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
Noun
The centeredness John describes only comes from a stockpile of relevant, respected resources. Chip Bell, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024 The stockpile has a limited supply of doses that expire October 31, the letter said. Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024
Verb
Newsom wants to give the California Energy Commission the power to require refiners to stockpile a stable fuel reserve to prevent shortages and price spikes when equipment is shut down for maintenance. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024 On Supermarket Sweep — which ran from 1990 to 1995 — contestants answered trivia questions and then earned time to race around the grocery store set to stockpile items in their grocery carts. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 31 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for stockpile 

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.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1872, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stockpile was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near stockpile

Cite this Entry

“Stockpile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stockpile. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

stockpile

noun
stock·​pile
ˈstäk-ˌpīl
: an extra supply especially of something necessary accumulated within a country for use during a shortage
stockpile verb

More from Merriam-Webster on stockpile

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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