stave

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "stave" is a valid English word.
It can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used as a noun referring to one of the several parallel strips of wood or metal that form a side of a barrel, cask, vat, or other container, or a vertical support forming part of a structure. It can also be used as a verb meaning to preserve or keep safe something, or to keep something from happening or being done. Example: "It is important to stave off disaster with proper preparation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In a small black rucksack he carries all his possessions: a phone, an old toothbrush, a spare pair of underpants and trousers, and a packet of paracetamol, purchased in a pound shop, to stave off the aches and pains that come from living on the streets.

The Guardian

Its eggs-act (sorry) origin is unclear, but one theory suggests that Lemuel Benedict – socialite, stockbroker, raffish-man-about-town – "invented" eggs Benedict in 1894, when, in an emergency attempt to stave off a hangover, he ordered a combination of toast, bacon, eggs and hollandaise at New York's Waldorf Hotel.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher quit today with a warning that his successor will have to "work hard" to stave off a funding crunch.

The Guardian

In Hagendijk's view these democratic safeguards helped to stave off some of the excesses of new public management style reforms driven by increasing efficiency, marketisation and stronger top-down management until the mid-1990s, when the Act was scrapped.

The Guardian

"It is more of a question of what barrel they can still scrape to find some money to stave off default".

The Guardian

Britain was pulled closer towards a renewed cold war with Russia when David Cameron announced UK military trainers are to be deployed to help Ukraine forces stave off further Russian backed incursions into its sovereign territory.

The Guardian

Gary Johnson scored Aldershot's winner in the first leg but Bolton won the second leg 2-1 at Burnden Park, and with the away-goals rule only counting after extra-time, the home team had a further 30 minutes to stave off relegation.

The Guardian - Sport

Freshers at the University of Hull are being taught how to stave off starvation today by Nora Sands, the straight-talking dinner lady from Jamie's School Dinners.

The Guardian

That will be me actually, spending an unnatural amount of time going up and down in a lift and trying to stave off motion sickness.

The Guardian

Senator John McCain has warned that the Islamic State (Isis) is winning in Iraq and Syria, and that the United States needs to deploy ground troops if it is to stave off defeat.

The Guardian

By taking an active role it may be able to help in the transition to some new, possibly better, arrangement, and to stave off the worst outcomes.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stave off", ensure the context clearly indicates what negative outcome you are trying to prevent. Strong verbs following "stave off" create a more impactful sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "stave off" when a permanent solution is intended. It implies a temporary delay or prevention, not a complete elimination of the problem.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "stave off" primarily functions as a transitive verb, requiring an object. Ludwig AI highlights its use in preventing or delaying undesirable outcomes. It suggests a proactive effort to avoid something negative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stave" is a versatile verb, most commonly used in the phrasal form "stave off", meaning to prevent or delay something negative. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, it is crucial to use it accurately, understanding that it implies a temporary solution rather than a permanent fix. Alternatives like "ward off" or "avert" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ward off

Focuses on actively defending against something, similar to preventing but with an emphasis on resisting an attack or negative influence.

avert

Emphasizes the action of turning something away or preventing it from happening, suggesting a more decisive intervention.

forestall

Highlights the proactive aspect of preventing something by taking action in advance.

preclude

Suggests making something impossible, a stronger form of prevention.

obviate

Indicates removing the necessity or need for something, thus preventing its occurrence.

delay

Focuses specifically on postponing something, a temporary form of prevention.

deter

Implies discouraging or restraining someone from doing something, indirectly preventing an action.

hold back

Emphasizes restraining or impeding progress, similar to delaying but with a focus on control.

keep at bay

Highlights maintaining distance or control to prevent something from approaching or affecting you.

mitigate

Focuses on reducing the severity of something, rather than preventing it entirely.

FAQs

How to use "stave off" in a sentence?

Use "stave off" to describe the act of delaying or preventing something negative from happening. For example, "The company implemented new policies to stave off financial crisis."

What can I say instead of "stave off"?

You can use alternatives like "ward off", "avert", or "prevent" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "stave off" or "stave on"?

"Stave off" is the correct phrasal verb. "Stave on" is not a recognized or grammatically correct phrase in English.

What's the difference between "stave off" and "mitigate"?

"Stave off" implies preventing something from happening, while "mitigate" means reducing the severity of something that is already happening or is unavoidable. "Stave off" aims to stop an event; "mitigate" aims to lessen its impact.