stave off competition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stave off competition" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase generally refers to the act of preventing or delaying competition. For example, you could say "The company implemented new strategies to stave off competition from other firms in the same industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

But it must do well there to stave off competition.

The New York Times

Novartis might try to assert other patents to stave off competition, however.

The New York Times

Now he is fighting to stave off competition from Internet trading services.

The New York Times

Her appearance on NBC's 'Today' show helped the network stave off competition from 'Good Morning America' which features the return of Katie Couric to morning television.

The New York Times

The big drug-makers are in part hoping to stave off competition from cheaper generic drugs, like those produced by the Indian company Cipla.

The New York Times

Rivals say the company uses its powerful patent portfolio and frequent lawsuits as cudgels to stave off competition or to force others to license technology it needs.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Ben Southall, 34, staved off competition from almost 35,000 worldwide applicants to secure the post.

The Guardian

Their popularity grows album upon album, with this, their nominated album reaching No 1 in the album charts, staving off competition from EDM overlord Avicii.

The Guardian - Music

Larry Feldman, the president and chief executive of Feldman Equities, which is based in Phoenix and has an office in Manhasset, N.Y., also endorses aggressive leasing when it comes to staving off competition from Wal-Mart.

The New York Times

There was one problem: the government kept putting off requests for bids, in part because the main Humvee manufacturer, a large corporation in Indiana called AM General, appeared to have enough clout in Congress to get the process delayed, staving off competition.

The New Yorker

Sotheby's has also staved off competition from a deep-pocketed third player, Phillips, de Pury & Luxembourg.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing business strategy, use "stave off competition" to emphasize proactive measures taken to maintain market position.

Common error

Avoid using "stave off competition" when you actually mean to "eliminate competition"; the former suggests temporary prevention, while the latter implies complete removal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stave off competition" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action taken to prevent or delay the negative impacts of competitive forces. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is commonly used in business and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stave off competition" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that describes actions taken to prevent or delay the negative impacts of competitive forces. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage, particularly in news, business, and economic contexts. While alternatives like "ward off competition" or "fend off competition" exist, "stave off competition" effectively conveys strategic efforts to maintain a competitive edge. It is crucial to use the phrase accurately, understanding its nuance of temporary prevention rather than complete elimination. Overall, mastering the usage of this phrase enhances clarity and precision in professional and academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ward off competition

Replaces "stave" with "ward", suggesting a defensive action against competition.

fend off competition

Similar to "ward off", emphasizing resistance against competitive pressures.

hold off competition

Similar to "stave off", suggesting a temporary delay or prevention of competition.

prevent competition

Directly indicates stopping competition from arising or succeeding.

keep competition at bay

Uses a figurative expression to convey maintaining a distance from competitive threats.

mitigate competition

Focuses on lessening the impact of competition, rather than completely preventing it.

counter competition

Highlights actions taken to directly oppose competitive forces.

combat competition

Suggests a more aggressive approach to dealing with competition.

avoid competition

Emphasizes strategies to sidestep or evade direct competition.

deflect competition

Implies redirecting or turning aside competitive challenges.

FAQs

What does "stave off competition" mean?

"Stave off competition" means to prevent or delay competition from negatively impacting a business or entity. It suggests taking measures to protect one's position in a market or field.

How can I use "stave off competition" in a sentence?

Example: "The company invested heavily in research and development to "stave off competition" from emerging startups."

What are some alternatives to "stave off competition"?

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

Is it better to "stave off competition" or "eliminate competition"?

The best approach depends on the situation. "Staving off competition" implies temporary measures, while eliminating it suggests a more permanent solution, often through innovation or market dominance. However, completely eliminating competition can sometimes raise antitrust concerns.