1
: any of the narrow strips of wood or narrow iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel (such as a barrel) or structure
4
staved or stove
ˈstōv 
; staving
; staving
1
: to smash a hole in
stove in the boat
also
: to crush or break inward
staved in several ribs
2
: to break in the staves of (a cask)
3
: to drive or thrust away
1
: to walk or move rapidly
2
archaic
: to become stove in
—used of a boat or ship
Examples of stave in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2026
In 1975, the museum purchased his work Georgia Gate, a structure of fluidly bent pine staves inspired by photos of Georgia tombstones the artist saw in musicologist Marshall Stearns’s 1970 book The Story of Jazz.
—News Desk, Artforum, 8 Mar. 2026
Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
One service break per set, Fonseca with plenty of opportunities to steal them back, and Alcaraz’s ability to release pressure with his serve staving them off.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stave
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Before filtration, this tequila was aged for eight months in symphony barrels, which are made from oak staves sourced from forests in Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, each of which is said to imbue the spirit with a different flavor.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2026
In 1975, the museum purchased his work Georgia Gate, a structure of fluidly bent pine staves inspired by photos of Georgia tombstones the artist saw in musicologist Marshall Stearns’s 1970 book The Story of Jazz.
—News Desk, Artforum, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
Rumors of liquidation circulated — in the middle of the NBA and NHL seasons — but Main Street has so far been able to stave that off.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
One service break per set, Fonseca with plenty of opportunities to steal them back, and Alcaraz’s ability to release pressure with his serve staving them off.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stave
Cite this Entry
“Stave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stave. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stave
1 of 2 noun1
: a wooden stick
2
: one of the narrow strips of wood or iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel (as a barrel or cask) or structure
3
: stanza
stave
2 of 2 verb
staved or stove
ˈstōv
; staving
; staving
1
: to break in the staves of (a cask)
2
: to smash a hole in
stave in a boat
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
