stave in

verb

To stave from the outside, to crush inward, to cause to collapse inward.

“"We'll get an axe and stave in all these barrels and the liquid will all run out", threatened the man.”

Similar
stave
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Meanings

verbstave in (third-person singular simple present staves in, present participle staving in, simple past staved in or stove in, past participle staved in or stove in or stoven in)

present singular third person staves in · participle present staving in · past staved in · past stove in · participle past staved in · participle past stove in · participle past stoven in

  1. To stave from the outside, to crush inward, to cause to collapse inward.

    "We'll get an axe and stave in all these barrels and the liquid will all run out", threatened the man.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbburst or force (a hole) into something

Similar
stave
Broader
burstsplitbreak open
Also see
cave instave

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

stave in. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stave%20in

MLA

“stave in.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stave%20in. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stave in,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stave%20in.

Source: stave in on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.