stake

1 of 2

noun

ˈstāk 

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

especially : a sum of money or its equivalent risked

b

: the prize in a contest

c

: an interest or share in an undertaking or enterprise

4

: a Latter-day Saint territorial jurisdiction comprising a group of wards

5

: grubstake

6

: stakes race

—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction

see also at stake

stake

2 of 2

verb

staked; staking

transitive verb

1

: to mark the limits of by or as if by stakes

staking the boundaries

2

: to tether to a stake

3

: bet, wager

staked everything on one last attempt

It will work, and I would stake my life on it.

4

: to fasten up or support (something, such as a plant) with stakes

5

: to back financially

6

: grubstake

see also stake a claim

Synonyms of stake

Noun

• interest
• share

Verb

• fund
• finance
• subsidize

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

Noun

The agency is preparing to send four astronauts back to the Moon this March on a high-stakes, ten-day mission to the far side. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026

City of Pasadena and Rose Bowl attorneys argued public funds were at stake and the dispute should play out in court proceedings open to the public. —Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026

Verb

For the Chinese Communist Party, which stakes its claim to legitimacy on defeating Japanese invaders during World War II, that would be an unforgivable outrage. —Andy Browne, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026

Simply stake them into the ground—no complicated installation required. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English staca; akin to Middle Low German stake pole, and perhaps to Latin tignum beam

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stake

• go to the stake for/over
• I would stake my life on it
• stake a claim
• stake body
• stake one's claim
• stake one's life on (something)
• stake out
• stake truck
• the stake
• would/will bet/stake one's life on

Rhymes for stake

• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake

Kids Definition

stake

1 of 2 noun

ˈstāk 

1

: 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

: grubstake

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

a

: bet entry 2 sense 1

b

: to back financially

Legal Definition

stake

noun

1

: the subject matter (as property or an obligation) of an interpleader

2

: an interest or share in an especially commercial undertaking