STAVE OFF

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stave off mean? 

• STAVE OFF (verb)
  The verb STAVE OFF has 1 sense:

1. prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening

  Familiarity information: STAVE OFF used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STAVE OFF (verb)

Meaning:

Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

avert; deflect; fend off; head off; stave off; ward off; avoid; debar; obviate

Context examples:

Let's avoid a confrontation / head off a confrontation / avert a strike

Hypernyms (to "stave off" is one way to...):

forbid; foreclose; forestall; preclude; prevent (keep from happening or arising; make impossible)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something