stakes 1 of 2

Definition of stakesnext
plural of stake
1
as in interests
a legal right to participation in the advantages, profits, and responsibility of something if I invest in your business, I expect a stake in it in return

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in bets
the money or thing risked on the outcome of an uncertain event lost his entire stake with a single roll of the dice

Synonyms & Similar Words

stakes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stake

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stakes
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 For companies, the reputational and financial stakes are high. CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026 The lender remains a key M&A player in Europe, with its minority stakes in Commerzbank and Greece's Alpha Bank returning around 20 percent returns on investment, according to the bank. Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026 But Williams has never been in a scenario before with stakes this high, where winning is not just a goal but a requirement, and playing under that kind of spotlight requires a different level of mental intensity. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026 The two signed an agreement that month on behalf of limited liability companies to acquire stakes in advertising technology company Adfin, which would later shutter. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Feb. 2026 Humans stepped in when discussions became nuanced or high-stakes. Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026 Low-stakes, consistent connection matters. Dr. Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026 This limitation becomes critical when generative AI’s inability to recognize its own uncertainty can have serious consequences, particularly in high-stakes applications such as medical diagnosis, financial advice and autonomous vehicle decision-making. Ricky J. Sethi, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 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 Mexicali stakes a claim to the clamato cocktail, a heady blend of vodka, clam juice and other ingredients invented in the 1960s by a bartender at the city’s Acueducto Piano Bar. Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 San Miguel Chapel Located along the Old Santa Fe Trail in the Barrio de Analco Historic District, this Spanish colonial mission church stakes its claim as the oldest in the United States. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026 The Scout, originally produced by International Harvester from 1961 to 1980, stakes its claim as the world’s first utility vehicle. Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2026 Gliding gracefully through the mix of styles and languages — from Mandarin and Arabic to German and her native Spanish — Rosalia further stakes her claim as one of most fascinating voices in music today. Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025 With assists from Jeff Parker, Meg Duffy, and others, the versatile drummer’s latest album stakes its claim at the shifting border between jazz and electronic music. Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2025 In terms of food, true to its name, Prime 47 stakes its reputation on prime cuts, including a $147 24-ounce tomahawk ribeye (more frugal diners might opt for the $74 Delmonico ribeye). Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025 There’s an indulgent satisfaction to these films, most notably on display in this new trailer when Gellar literally stakes Weaving in the heart (or … the shoulder, most likely), that prevents them for tipping into a haughty self-seriousness. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stakes
Noun
  • Howard sought to realign the interests of humanity with those of nature in agricultural practices as a way to protect our food systems from wasteful industrial consumption.
    Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Redman, who along with a handful of other representatives disclosed business interests in short-term rentals, cosponsored the bill alongside House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star.
    Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Capital misallocation risk The equity stakes also raise the question of whether the government can be trusted to make the right bets on companies and technologies that will succeed over the long term, Harrell said.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Here are the latest gambling odds and prop bets for Super Bowl LX.
    Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Medicare funds the residency programs, and the number of slots can be increased by federal lawmakers.
    Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Buckley also noted that the state has invested nearly $45 million into a program that funds car share, bike share, vanpool and ride-sharing projects in disadvantaged communities.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Where to Stay The 1850 Hotel The 20-suite 1850 Hotel puts you right in the heart of Boone, a short walk from charming boutiques, coffee shops, and bars.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026
  • When the weather allows, outdoor seating puts diners on eye level with the skyline.
    Kasia Dietz, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • For more on why AstraZeneca poured billions into China ahead of the trading debut of its shares in New York, read this.
    Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Similarly, in the months leading up to 2018, there was a frenzy of investments on initial coin offerings — in which cryptocurrencies were sold much like how companies sell shares during initial public offerings.
    Rafael Nam, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Kalshi tested the waters by offering its first wagers on the Super Bowl in early 2025 and the CFTC did not step in to stop them.
    Peyton Forte, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
  • See the latest odds and wagers here.
    Anna Tingley, Variety, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • India’s Russian oil imports are more than 1 million barrels per day, so that hits Russia’s economy and takes away part of the means by which Russian President Vladimir Putin finances the war in Ukraine.
    Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Gisela Sánchez Maroto In 2023, Gisela Sánchez Maroto became the first woman to lead the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, an $18 billion (assets) multilateral development bank that finances infrastructure, energy, health and education projects across Central America and the Caribbean.
    Maggie McGrath, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stakes. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on stakes

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!