stake

1 of 2

noun

ˈstāk

Synonyms of stake next

: a pointed piece of wood or other material driven or to be driven into the ground as a marker or support

: a post to which a person is bound for execution by burning

: execution by burning at a stake

: something that is staked for gain or loss

: the prize in a contest

: an interest or share in an undertaking or enterprise

: a Mormon territorial jurisdiction comprising a group of wards

: grubstake

: stakes race

—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction

stake

2 of 2

verb

staked; staking

transitive verb

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

: to tether to a stake

: bet, wager

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

: to back financially

: grubstake

Phrases

at stake

: at issue : in jeopardy

stake a claim

: to assert a title or right to something by or as if by placing stakes usually to satisfy a legal requirement

Example Sentences

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 clock is ticking on a debt ceiling decision with much at stake, Williams says. —

Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 17 May 2023 There’s a lot more of America at stake here than just two states, including four other states that were also finalists in this process. —

Kyle Whitmire | Kwhitmire@al.com, al, 17 May 2023 Then the fund capitalized on Tesla’s impressive 68 percent jump in value this year, selling off its entire Tesla stake in the first quarter of 2023, according to reports on Monday. —

Tori Otten, The New Republic, 16 May 2023 According to a regulatory filing, Macquarie has increased its stake in TSMC, while Tiger Global has also bought in. —

Michelle Toh, CNN, 16 May 2023 The trust — which includes Elvis Presley's beloved Graceland property and a 15 percent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) — had previously listed Priscilla and Lisa Marie's former business manager Barry Siegel as co-trustees. —

Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 16 May 2023 Officials attending the talks in this port city apparently balked at overtly condemning China, given the huge stake most countries have in good relations with the rising power and No. 2 economy. —

Elaine Kurtenbach, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2023 Pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, Great American Media, led by president and CEO Bill Abbott, will retain a controlling stake in the merged company, with Abbott as CEO, and oversee day-to-day management of all multi-channel family and faith media brands. —

Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 May 2023 In 2019, the companies reached a deal that could see Disney or Comcast force a sale of Comcast's Hulu stake beginning in January 2024. —

Brendan Morrow, The Week, 11 May 2023

Verb

Perhaps not surprisingly — given that so many cities, regions and nations can stake a claim to laksa — Malaysia sought to do just that in 2009, to the exclusion of others. —

Michael A. Gardiner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2023 There’s no doubt that the Celtics would prefer to face the reconstructed sixth-place Nets, who are clinging to the wins Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving staked them to before being traded. —

Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Mar. 2023 Kraken Last month, rival crypto exchange Kraken agreed to stop offering staking services to US customers and pay $30 million in penalties to the SEC as part of a settlement with the agency. —

Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 23 Mar. 2023 Thomas scored nine points in the opening quarter to stake the Warriors to a 15-10 advantage. —

Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press, 25 Feb. 2023 Toronto's newfound potential was on display in a 6-3 romp over the Sabres on Tuesday, when the O'Reilly line combined for four goals and 13 points, and staked the Leafs to a 3-0 lead 7:14 into the game before Buffalo registered its first shot on net. —

John Wawrow, ajc, 23 Feb. 2023 His professional trajectory was a quiet epic of resilience and trust for the son of a Black family who fled the racist violence and poverty of the Jim Crow South in the Great Migration, staking claim to a middle-class life in the relative safety of Boston. —

Kalpana Jain, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Feb. 2023 The Securities and Exchange Commission reached a settlement with the Kraken cryptocurrency exchange in which Kraken paid a $30 million penalty and agreed to stop offering staking services to U.S. investors. —

WSJ, 16 Feb. 2023 Fayetteville received a three-pointer from Brylan Sims but James countered with a three-pointer to stake West to a 30-18 lead after two quarters. —

Rick Fires, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2023 See More

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.