Definition

Verb: * To prevent something bad or undesirable from happening, especially for a period of time; to delay or ward off an event or situation.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the action of taking measures to stop something negative from occurring or to keep it at bay. It often implies a temporary or ongoing effort rather than a permanent solution. The structure is typically "stave off [something]", where the object is the undesirable thing (e.g., disaster, hunger, boredom, defeat).

Examples

• The company raised emergency funds to stave off bankruptcy.
• She ate a small snack to stave off hunger until dinner.
• The government introduced measures to stave off an economic crisis.
• He took vitamin C to stave off a cold.

Advanced Usage

• "Stave off" can be used in both literal contexts (like staving off physical threats) and figurative contexts (like staving off feelings or abstract problems).
• The past tense and past participle is "staved off" (e.g., ). The variant "stove off" is archaic and rarely used in modern English.

Variants and Related Words

• Stave (verb): To break or smash a hole in something, especially a boat. This is a different, though etymologically related, meaning (e.g., ).
• Stave (noun): A strong stick or pole, or a set of five horizontal lines on which musical notes are written.

Synonyms

• Avert: To turn away or prevent (something bad).
• Fend off: To defend oneself against an attack or problem.
• Ward off: To prevent someone or something from harming or affecting you.
• Forestall: To prevent or delay an event by taking action ahead of time.
• Preclude: To make something impossible; to prevent.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Head off: To prevent something unwanted from happening by taking action to stop it. (e.g., ).
• Fight off: To resist something, such as an illness or an attacker, successfully. (e.g., ).

Related Idioms

• Keep at bay: To prevent someone or something from coming too close or being a problem. (e.g., ).

Verb

1. prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
   • Let's avoid a confrontation
   • head off a confrontation
   • avert a strike