Stake
/steɪk/noun
A stiff piece of wood or metal that is pushed into the ground.
We used stakes to support the young tree.
Often appears as...
- drive a stake
- tent stake
noun
Something that you risk losing when you try to achieve something.
He knew his reputation was at stake in this project.
Often appears as...
- high stakes
- at stake
verb
To risk an amount of money.
She staked all her savings on the business venture.
Often appears as...
- stake something on something
- stake a claim
verb
To support with a stake or stakes.
We staked the young tree to give it support.
Often appears as...
- stake out
- stake down
noun
A part or share in a business or project.
She owns a 40% stake in the company.
Often appears as...
- have a stake
- buy a stake
verb
To watch a place secretly for a specific purpose, especially by the police.
The detective staked out the suspect's house overnight.
Often appears as...
- stake out a place
- stake someone out
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
A stiff piece of wood or metal that is pushed into the ground.
We used stakes to support the young tree.
Often appears as...
- drive a stake
- tent stake
noun
Something that you risk losing when you try to achieve something.
He knew his reputation was at stake in this project.
Often appears as...
- high stakes
- at stake
verb
To risk an amount of money.
She staked all her savings on the business venture.
Often appears as...
- stake something on something
- stake a claim
verb
To support with a stake or stakes.
We staked the young tree to give it support.
Often appears as...
- stake out
- stake down
noun
A part or share in a business or project.
She owns a 40% stake in the company.
Often appears as...
- have a stake
- buy a stake
verb
To watch a place secretly for a specific purpose, especially by the police.
The detective staked out the suspect's house overnight.
Often appears as...
- stake out a place
- stake someone out
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 6
Pro Tip 1/2Supportive Object
Use 'stake' to describe objects that support another thing.
The tomato plants were tied to stakes for stability.
Pro Tip 2/2Outdoor Activities
'Stake' is commonly used in camping or gardening situations.
Make sure to hammer the tent stakes deep into the ground.
Compare with
betinterestinvestmentpicketpolepostriskstick
Never forget "Stake"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
The history of marriage...
Despite all these differences, a lot of marriages throughout history did have one thing in common. With crucial matters like property and reproduction at stake, they were way too important to depend on young love. Especially among the upperclasses, matches were often made by families or rulers.
Video examples
Best Lion Moments Part 2...
so much is at stake that flip even enlists help from a local tourist lodge i think you should drive past us now and you go goku and you're going to tell people that the lions are lying here you'll be watching them very carefully and then tell them if they come anywhere
Video examples
Storytelling can be...
pernicious she what she's doing is instead of helping real victims she's got the police force looking for her she's the center of attention actual lives are at stake and here they are catering to her whims and I think that that is what
Video examples
Why you should define...
If you're a college student who, say, is in a downward spiral, and you feel helpless and hopeless, unabated, that could cost you your life. So the stakes are very, very high. And there are many tools in the toolkit to get you there.
Video examples
This country isn't just...
only with a 15-year time horizon and millions of tons of carbon dioxide at stake. Once the deal is closed, we use the transition fund to protect our parks, giving our government time to increase our own funding gradually
Video examples
How Magellan circumnaviga...
and the native's bamboo spears ended the captain's life. Yet the voyage had to continue. Magellan's will specified that Enrique should be freed, but the expedition still needed an interpreter. With his freedom at stake,
Video examples
Why the buildings of the...
Find an architect, hire an architect, work with us to design better buildings, better cities, and a better world, because the stakes are high. Buildings don't just reflect our society, they shape our society
Video examples
Nationalism vs....
so we can make a real contribution to what's happening in the world right now. I think everyone feels more alive, more concerned, more engaged with the politics of the moment. The stakes do seem quite high,
Video examples
Living Off the Land in...
Here, this is the bridge and tunnel. This is the connection to the outside world, where their food comes in. And if something goes wrong, the stakes are just a lot higher.
Video examples
How Twitter needs to...
You know? I mean -- It's democracy at stake. It's our culture at stake. It's our world at stake.
Video examples
The history of marriage...
Despite all these differences, a lot of marriages throughout history did have one thing in common. With crucial matters like property and reproduction at stake, they were way too important to depend on young love. Especially among the upperclasses, matches were often made by families or rulers.
Video examples
Best Lion Moments Part 2...
so much is at stake that flip even enlists help from a local tourist lodge i think you should drive past us now and you go goku and you're going to tell people that the lions are lying here you'll be watching them very carefully and then tell them if they come anywhere
Video examples
Storytelling can be...
pernicious she what she's doing is instead of helping real victims she's got the police force looking for her she's the center of attention actual lives are at stake and here they are catering to her whims and I think that that is what
Video examples
Why you should define...
If you're a college student who, say, is in a downward spiral, and you feel helpless and hopeless, unabated, that could cost you your life. So the stakes are very, very high. And there are many tools in the toolkit to get you there.
Video examples
This country isn't just...
only with a 15-year time horizon and millions of tons of carbon dioxide at stake. Once the deal is closed, we use the transition fund to protect our parks, giving our government time to increase our own funding gradually
Video examples
How Magellan circumnaviga...
and the native's bamboo spears ended the captain's life. Yet the voyage had to continue. Magellan's will specified that Enrique should be freed, but the expedition still needed an interpreter. With his freedom at stake,
Video examples
Why the buildings of the...
Find an architect, hire an architect, work with us to design better buildings, better cities, and a better world, because the stakes are high. Buildings don't just reflect our society, they shape our society
Video examples
Nationalism vs....
so we can make a real contribution to what's happening in the world right now. I think everyone feels more alive, more concerned, more engaged with the politics of the moment. The stakes do seem quite high,
Video examples
Living Off the Land in...
Here, this is the bridge and tunnel. This is the connection to the outside world, where their food comes in. And if something goes wrong, the stakes are just a lot higher.
Video examples
How Twitter needs to...
You know? I mean -- It's democracy at stake. It's our culture at stake. It's our world at stake.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jason Blum
American Producer
I'm always trying to make movies that are better than the ones that we've made before. We don't always succeed at doing that by any means, but we're always trying to raise the stakes, raise the bar, make the movies better, and that's hard.
Quote examples
Peter Heller
Writer
With fiction, I felt like I could bring to bear my full imagination, my entire heart, and so you feel very vulnerable. It's not your physical life, but it's everything else, so it felt like a lot was at stake.
Quote examples
Ryan Reynolds
Canadian Actor
I know there are actors we all want to beat up a little. I think it's important to do whatever it takes, and whatever it takes sometimes involves some physical or mental discipline. There's a lot at stake.
Quote examples
J. Donald Walters
Author
Happiness is understanding that friendship is more precious than mere things, more precious than getting your own way, more precious than being in situations where true principles are not at stake.
Quote examples
J. Smith-Cameron
American Actress
People think that, when you're doing comedy, nothing means anything, that people run around and act crazy. It's quite the opposite. The stakes are life-and-death.
Quote examples
Kailash Satyarthi
Indian Activist
Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see the end of child labor in my lifetime.
Quote examples
Jean Giraudoux
French Dramatist
I'm not afraid of death. It's the stake one puts up in order to play the game of life.
Quote examples
Franz von Papen
German Politician
Names and individuals are unimportant when Germany's final fate is at stake.
Quote examples
Jim Starlin
American Artist
Most times, life or death is the highest stake a person can play for.
Quote examples
Larry King
American Entertainer
I like to put a stake in people, because I know people helped me.
Quote examples
Jason Blum
American Producer
I'm always trying to make movies that are better than the ones that we've made before. We don't always succeed at doing that by any means, but we're always trying to raise the stakes, raise the bar, make the movies better, and that's hard.
Quote examples
Peter Heller
Writer
With fiction, I felt like I could bring to bear my full imagination, my entire heart, and so you feel very vulnerable. It's not your physical life, but it's everything else, so it felt like a lot was at stake.
Quote examples
Ryan Reynolds
Canadian Actor
I know there are actors we all want to beat up a little. I think it's important to do whatever it takes, and whatever it takes sometimes involves some physical or mental discipline. There's a lot at stake.
Quote examples
J. Donald Walters
Author
Happiness is understanding that friendship is more precious than mere things, more precious than getting your own way, more precious than being in situations where true principles are not at stake.
Quote examples
J. Smith-Cameron
American Actress
People think that, when you're doing comedy, nothing means anything, that people run around and act crazy. It's quite the opposite. The stakes are life-and-death.
Quote examples
Kailash Satyarthi
Indian Activist
Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see the end of child labor in my lifetime.
Quote examples
Jean Giraudoux
French Dramatist
I'm not afraid of death. It's the stake one puts up in order to play the game of life.
Quote examples
Franz von Papen
German Politician
Names and individuals are unimportant when Germany's final fate is at stake.
Quote examples
Jim Starlin
American Artist
Most times, life or death is the highest stake a person can play for.
Quote examples
Larry King
American Entertainer
I like to put a stake in people, because I know people helped me.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension