Stave off

usgb
verb

To prevent or stop something bad or unwanted from happening.

She tried to stave off the boredom by reading a book.
Visual representation of "stave off" - To prevent or stop something bad or unwanted from happening

Often appears as...

  • stave off disaster
  • stave off boredom
Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "stave off"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Immediacy

Use 'stave off' when expressing urgent prevention of something negative happening soon.

Illustration for Immediacy
They donated food to stave off hunger in the crisis-hit region.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Active Effort

'Stave off' implies actively working against a threat, not passively avoiding it.

Illustration for Active Effort
The town built levees to stave off flooding.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Temporary Fix

Often, 'stave off' suggests a temporary solution, not a permanent fix.

Illustration for Temporary Fix
I drank coffee to stave off sleepiness during the meeting.
Visual representation of the word "Stave off"

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