stockpile
gb/stˈɑkpˌaɪl/ us/stˈɑkpˌaɪl/
B2
English
~ 9700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
large stored supply of something
A big amount of something that people keep to use later, especially in an emergency or when it may be hard to get.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has a stockpile of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "stockpile" for any amount of stored goods, even small ones. In most contexts, a stockpile suggests a large, often extra amount, not just normal storage. Another common mistake is confusing "stockpile" with "stock"; "stock" usually refers to the regular amount a shop or company has to sell, while "stockpile" suggests an additional or special reserve.
Synonyms
reserve (Often slightly more formal and neutral; does not always suggest a very large or secret amount.)
|
hoard (Suggests secret or selfish keeping of things, often with a negative tone.)
Antonyms
shortage (Describes the opposite situation, where there is not enough of something instead of a large stored supply.)
Collocations
a stockpile of weapons
|a stockpile of food
|build up a stockpile
|emergency stockpile
|strategic stockpile
|maintain a stockpile
Themes
economy
|war
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|business
|law
Examples
- The country has a huge stockpile of vaccines in case another outbreak occurs.
- Officials discovered an illegal stockpile of firearms in the warehouse.
- After the flood, the town relied on its emergency stockpile of food and water.
- The company keeps a stockpile of raw materials to avoid delays in production.
- Rising tensions have renewed fears about nuclear stockpiles around the world.
Learner examples
- They keep a stockpile of bottled water in the garage.
- The army has a stockpile of weapons in the desert.
- We have a small stockpile of rice for bad times.
- The hospital uses its stockpile of masks during flu season.
- The family built a stockpile of canned food before the storm.
Verb
B2
action
2
collect and store large amounts
To get and keep a lot of something so you can use it later, especially for an emergency.
Usage pattern:
[someone] stockpiles [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "stockpile on" (e.g. *"People stockpile on food"*). In standard English, "stockpile" is normally a transitive verb: "People stockpile food" or "They stockpile supplies." Another mistake is using it for small, everyday amounts; it usually implies unusually large or extra amounts.
Synonyms
hoard (Often implies selfish or secretive storing and can sound more negative or emotional than "stockpile".)
|
build up (More general and less specific; can apply to many things, not only stored goods.)
Antonyms
use up (Means to finish all of something instead of collecting more of it.)
Collocations
stockpile weapons
|stockpile food
|stockpile supplies
|secretly stockpile
|illegally stockpile
|stockpile medicines
Themes
economy
|war
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|business
|work
Examples
- As prices rose, people began to stockpile basic food items.
- The regime has been secretly stockpiling chemical weapons for years.
- Hospitals are trying to stockpile enough protective gear for the winter.
- Some households stockpiled toilet paper at the start of the pandemic.
- The company stockpiles raw materials to protect itself against supply-chain problems.
Learner examples
- People started to stockpile rice before the war.
- They stockpile water in large tanks under the house.
- Many families stockpiled food when they heard the bad news.
- The government is stockpiling vaccines for next year.
- She worries and stockpiles medicine for her parents.
Noun
C1
entity
3
place or pile of stored goods
A place or big pile where things like coal, weapons, or other goods are kept together.
Usage pattern:
[something] is kept in a stockpile near [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with the more common meaning of "stockpile" as the amount of goods, rather than the physical place or pile. Context usually shows the difference: if the sentence talks about an explosion, leak, or a location you can see or guard, it usually refers to the place or pile.
Synonyms
storage site (More general and formal; does not always imply a very large or exposed pile.)
Antonyms
distribution center (Focuses on moving goods out rather than simply keeping them in one stored pile or location.)
Collocations
coal stockpile
|weapons stockpile
|munitions stockpile
|toxic waste stockpile
|military stockpile
|on-site stockpile
Themes
industry
|war
|business
|law
|work
Examples
- Inspectors found several leaking barrels in a chemical stockpile outside the city.
- The coal stockpile can be seen from the highway.
- An explosion at a weapons stockpile injured dozens of soldiers.
- The company maintains a stockpile of sand and gravel next to the plant.
- Residents are worried about the huge toxic waste stockpile near their homes.
Learner examples
- Trucks brought the coal to a big stockpile near the road.
- There was an accident at a weapons stockpile in the desert.
- They keep old machines in a stockpile behind the factory.
- The town is close to a nuclear waste stockpile.
- Soldiers guarded the munitions stockpile all night.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stockpile
IPA
GB/stˈɑkpˌaɪl/
US/stˈɑkpˌaɪl/
Syllables & stress
stock - pile (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (stock)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: stockpile
- Plural: stockpiles
Verb
- Base: stockpile
- 3rd Person Singular: stockpiles
- Present Participle: stockpiling
- Past: stockpiled
Word family
Forms
stockpiles
noun
stockpiling
verb
stockpiled
verb
Expressions
a stockpile of
1/ə stˈɑkpˌaɪl əv/
fixed phrase
a large stored supply of something
Used before a noun to mean a large amount of that thing kept for later use.
Examples
- They have a stockpile of canned food in the basement.
- The rebels were found with a stockpile of weapons and ammunition.
- The company holds a stockpile of spare parts in case of breakdowns.
build up a stockpile
1/bˈɪld ˈʌp ə stˈɑkpˌaɪl/
fixed phrase
gradually create a large stored supply
To slowly collect and keep more and more of something so that you have a large amount for later.
Examples
- Governments are trying to build up a stockpile of antiviral drugs.
- Over several years, the group built up a stockpile of illegal arms.
- We should build up a stockpile of savings before we start the project.