1
: a pointed piece of wood or other material driven or to be driven into the ground as a marker or support
2
a
: a post to which a person is bound for execution by burning
b
: execution by burning at a stake
3
a
: something that is staked for gain or loss
b
: the prize in a contest
c
: an interest or share in an undertaking or enterprise
4
: a Mormon territorial jurisdiction comprising a group of wards
5
6
: stakes race
—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
staked; staking
1
: to mark the limits of by or as if by stakes
2
: to tether to a stake
4
: to fasten up or support (something, such as a plant) with stakes
5
: to back financially
6
Synonyms
Examples of stake in a Sentence
Noun
Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.
a poker game with high stakes
The stakes are too high.
Verb
She staked the tomatoes to keep them from falling over.
the actor staked the entire production of the film with his own money
Recent Examples on the Web
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
The exact total money at stake was not cited in public court records.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 26 Apr. 2024
Here's a quick guide: Several issues were at stake in 1968
For many Columbia students in 1968, their protest was motivated by anger over the Vietnam War — and changes to the military draft that were chipping away at students' deferments, particularly in graduate schools.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024
As previously reported, Min earned an 18% stake in ADOR in late 2023, when HYBE moved from full ownership of the label to 80%, with the additional 2% owned by other company executives.
—Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 25 Apr. 2024
That deal specifies that Endeavor’s controlling stake in TKO will not be sold.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Apr. 2024
James Wilson, the director of Detention Action, which campaigns against human rights abuses in the immigration system, urged the public to look past the political stalemate and remember what is at stake.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024
The earnout has shed some $1.3 billion in value from a debut peak through Friday’s close, with Trump’s current stake losing billions on paper in a matter of weeks.
—Bailey Lipschultz, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
So London has a lot at stake if the trend of low CEO pay and departing listings doesn’t reverse.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 12 Apr. 2024
Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
Sunak, who is trailing in the polls ahead of an election expected this fall, is staking his Conservative Party's reelection campaign on this plan, despite several legal challenges from top British and European courts.
—Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Ohtani staked Glasnow to a 2-0 lead with his fifth homer of the season and first since April 12, a span of 29 at-bats.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024
The Vilnius International Film Festival (VIFF) continues to stake its claim as one of the can’t-miss cinema events of Eastern Europe, not just for local audiences (as Lithuania’s largest film festival) but increasingly for industry attendees from the region and across the continent.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024
The show helped her stake her claim as a significant American artist.
—Margalit Fox, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
Aside from the emerging stars, artists who’ve staked their claim in the genre also made an appearance.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
Yet Kael’s real target was Village Voice film critic Andrew Sarris, her longtime rival who had staked his reputation on the auteur theory — the exaltation of the director über alles.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
The company who staked its literal name on the metaverse?
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
The former senior vice president in charge of powertrain engineering at Tesla liquidated virtually his entire stake in the company—worth $181 million—days after leaving the company last week.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
The exact total money at stake was not cited in public court records.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 26 Apr. 2024
Here's a quick guide: Several issues were at stake in 1968
For many Columbia students in 1968, their protest was motivated by anger over the Vietnam War — and changes to the military draft that were chipping away at students' deferments, particularly in graduate schools.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024
As previously reported, Min earned an 18% stake in ADOR in late 2023, when HYBE moved from full ownership of the label to 80%, with the additional 2% owned by other company executives.
—Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 25 Apr. 2024
That deal specifies that Endeavor’s controlling stake in TKO will not be sold.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Apr. 2024
James Wilson, the director of Detention Action, which campaigns against human rights abuses in the immigration system, urged the public to look past the political stalemate and remember what is at stake.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024
The earnout has shed some $1.3 billion in value from a debut peak through Friday’s close, with Trump’s current stake losing billions on paper in a matter of weeks.
—Bailey Lipschultz, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
So London has a lot at stake if the trend of low CEO pay and departing listings doesn’t reverse.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
Aysha Bagchi Court takes short break The court is staking a short break.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
Sunak, who is trailing in the polls ahead of an election expected this fall, is staking his Conservative Party's reelection campaign on this plan, despite several legal challenges from top British and European courts.
—Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Ohtani staked Glasnow to a 2-0 lead with his fifth homer of the season and first since April 12, a span of 29 at-bats.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024
The Vilnius International Film Festival (VIFF) continues to stake its claim as one of the can’t-miss cinema events of Eastern Europe, not just for local audiences (as Lithuania’s largest film festival) but increasingly for industry attendees from the region and across the continent.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024
The show helped her stake her claim as a significant American artist.
—Margalit Fox, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
Aside from the emerging stars, artists who’ve staked their claim in the genre also made an appearance.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
Yet Kael’s real target was Village Voice film critic Andrew Sarris, her longtime rival who had staked his reputation on the auteur theory — the exaltation of the director über alles.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
The company who staked its literal name on the metaverse?
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near stake
Cite this Entry
“Stake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stake. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stake
1 of 2 noun1
: a pointed piece (as of wood or metal) driven or to be driven into the ground especially as a marker or support
2
: a post to which a person is bound for execution by burning
3
a
: something that is staked for gain or loss
b
: the prize in a contest
c
: an interest or share in a business
4
stake
2 of 2 verb
staked; staking
1
a
: to mark the limits of by stakes
stake out a mining claim
b
: to tie to a stake
c
: to fasten up or support (as plants) with stakes
2
b
: to back financially
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