Verb
prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
Source: WordNetThere can be no brotherhood when some nations indulge in previously unheard of luxuries, while others struggle to stave off famine. Peter Singer
If I was ever a rare fine summer person, that's long ago. Most of us are half-and-half. The August noon in us works to stave off the November chills. We survive by what little Fourth of July wits we've stashed away. But there are times when we're all autumn people. Ray Bradbury
No amount of money would stave off a nuclear warhead. Poul Anderson
The best we can do with this flawed approach [the Iraq War surge] is to stave off defeat. Ricardo Sanchez
Walking is the only way proven to stave off cognitive decline - it works. Dan Buettner
He talked and talked, the kind of talking you do to stave off the inevitable physical desire. The kind of talk that only increases it. Zadie Smith