stockpile

American  

[stok-pahyl] / ˈstɒkˌpaɪl /

noun

1. a supply of material, as a pile of gravel in road maintenance.

2. a large supply of some metal, chemical, food, etc., gathered and held in reserve for use during a shortage or during a period of higher prices.

3. a quantity, as of munitions or weapons, accumulated for possible future use.

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verb (used with object)

stockpiled, stockpiling

1. to accumulate (material, goods, or the like) for future use; put or store in a stockpile.

verb (used without object)

stockpiled, stockpiling

1. to accumulate in a stockpile.

stockpile British  

/ ˈstɒkˌpaɪl /

verb

1. to acquire and store a large quantity of (something)

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noun

1. a large store or supply accumulated for future use

Other Word Forms

• stockpiler noun

Etymology

Origin of stockpile

First recorded in 1915–20; stock + pile ¹

Example Sentences

Claim: “They were also rapidly building a vast stockpile of conventional ballistic missiles and would have soon had missiles that could reach the American homeland, Europe, and virtually any other place on earth.”

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026

A military operation to retrieve the material would be easier if the US knew exactly where the stockpile was, said Jason Campbell, a former senior US defence official in the Obama and Trump administrations.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

But even with a ceasefire, the question of Iran's nuclear programme and its 440-kilogram stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains unresolved.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

GameStop’s stockpile of cryptocurrency also declined in value.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

I had a stockpile of Moss horror stories that kept them entertained for weeks.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Related Words

• accumulation
• buildup
• cache
• hoard
• inventory
• nest egg
• reserve
• stash
• stock
• surplus