stake

UK: /ˈsteɪk/ US: /steɪk/ ,(stāk)

Inflections of 'stake' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

stakes

v 3rd person singular

staking

v pres p

staked

v past

staked

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

stake¹ /steɪk/   n., v., staked, stak•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. Building a stick pointed at one end for driving into the ground as a boundary mark, part of a fence, etc.
2. a post to which a person is tied for execution, usually by burning.
3. the stake,[usually singular] the punishment of death by burning.

v. 

4. to mark (land) with or as if with stakes:
   [~ (+ out/off) + object] Stake (out) the area you'll need for the tomatoes.
5. to claim or reserve a share of (land, profit, etc.) as if by marking with stakes:
   [~ (+ out/off) + object] The settlers staked (out) the land from here to the river.
6. Botany [~ + object] to support with a stake or stakes, such as a plant.
7. Idioms pull up stakes, [no object] to leave one's job, place of residence, etc.;
   move.
8. stake out, (of the police) to keep (a place) under watch: [~ + out + object]
   The police staked out the bank.
   [~ + object + out]
   to stake it out for a week.

stake² /steɪk/   n., v., staked, stak•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. something, usually money, bet in a game.
2. an investment in business, with the hope of financial gain:
   a big stake in the company.
3. a personal interest or involvement:
   Parents have a big stake in the decisions made by their children's teachers.
4. Often, stakes. [plural] a prize, reward, etc., in or as if in a contest:
   The stakes are high in the lottery this week.

v. 

5. to risk (something) upon the outcome of an uncertain event, business venture, etc.:
   [~ + object + on + object] He staked a lot of money on the deal.
6. to provide (someone) resources, esp. money:
   [~ + object + to + object] They staked him to a good meal and sent him on his way.

Idioms

7. Idioms at stake, [uncountable] in danger of being lost;
   at risk:
   There's a great deal at stake in the upcoming election.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

stake¹ (stāk),  n., v., staked, stak•ing. 

n. 

1. Building a stick or post pointed at one end for driving into the ground as a boundary mark, part of a fence, support for a plant, etc.
2. a post to which a person is bound for execution, usually by burning.
3. the stake, the punishment of death by burning:
   Joan of Arc was sentenced to the stake.
4. Building one of a number of vertical posts fitting into sockets or staples on the edge of the platform of a truck or other vehicle, as to retain the load.
5. Religion [Mormon Ch.] a division of ecclesiastical territory, consisting of a number of wards presided over by a president and two counselors.
6. Building sett (def. 2).
7. Informal Terms pull up stakes, to leave one's job, place of residence, etc.;
   move:
   They pulled up stakes and went to California.

v.t. 

8. to mark with or as if with stakes (often fol. by off or out):
   We staked out the boundaries of the garden.
9. to possess, claim, or reserve a share of (land, profit, glory, etc.) as if by marking or bounding with stakes (usually fol. by out or off):
   I'm staking out ten percent of the profit for myself.
10. to separate or close off by a barrier of stakes.
11. Botany to support with a stake or stakes, as a plant:
    to stake tomato vines.
12. to tether or secure to a stake, as an animal:
    They staked the goat in the back yard.
13. to fasten with a stake or stakes.
14. stake out:
    • to keep (a suspect) under police surveillance.
    • to appoint (a police officer) to maintain constant watch over a suspect or place.

• bef. 900; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English staca pin; cognate with Dutch staak, German Stake, Old Norse -staki (in lȳsistaki candlestick); akin to stick¹; (verb, verbal) Middle English staken to mark (land) with stakes, derivative of the noun, nominal

Synonyms

• 1. pale, picket, pike.

stake² (stāk),  n., v., staked, stak•ing. 

n. 

1. something that is wagered in a game, race, or contest.
2. a monetary or commercial interest, investment, share, or involvement in something, as in hope of gain:
   I have a big stake in the success of the firm.
3. a personal or emotional concern, interest, involvement, or share:
   Parents have a big stake in their children's happiness.
4. the funds with which a gambler operates.
5. Often, stakes. a prize, reward, increase in status, etc., in or as if in a contest.
6. Games stakes. [Poker.] the cash values assigned to the various colored chips, various bets, and raises:
   Our stakes are 5, 10, and 25 cents: you can bet out 10 cents on a pair and reraise twice at 25 cents.
7. a grubstake.
8. at stake, in danger of being lost, as something that has been wagered;
   critically involved.

v.t. 

9. to risk (something), as upon the result of a game or the occurrence or outcome of any uncertain event, venture, etc.:
   He staked his reputation on the success of the invention.
10. to furnish (someone) with necessaries or resources, esp. money:
    They staked me to a good meal and a train ticket.

• origin, originally uncertain 1520–30

Synonyms

• 1. wager, bet.
• 5. winnings, purse.
• 9. bet, gamble, hazard; jeopardize.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stake / steɪk/ noun

1. a stick or metal bar driven into the ground as a marker, part of a fence, support for a plant, etc
2. one of a number of vertical posts that fit into sockets around a flat truck or railway wagon to hold the load in place
3. a method or the practice of executing people by binding them to a stake in the centre of a pile of wood that is then set on fire
4. pull up stakes ⇒ to leave one's home or temporary resting place and move on

verb (transitive)

1. to tie, fasten, or tether with or to a stake
2. often followed by out or off: to fence or surround with stakes
3. (often followed by out) to lay (a claim) to land, rights, etc
4. to support with a stake

Etymology: Old English staca pin; related to Old Frisian staka, Old High German stehho, Old Norse stjaki; see stick¹

stake / steɪk/ noun

1. the money or valuables that a player must hazard in order to buy into a gambling game or make a bet
2. an interest, often financial, held in something: a stake in the company's future
3. (often plural) the money that a player has available for gambling
4. (often plural) a prize in a race, etc, esp one made up of contributions from contestants or owners
5. (plural) a race in which all owners of competing horses contribute to the prize money
6. 
   short for grubstake1
7. at stake ⇒ at risk: two lives are at stake
8. raise the stakes ⇒ to increase the amount of money or valuables hazarded in a gambling game
9. to increase the costs, risks, or considerations involved in taking an action or reaching a conclusion

verb (transitive)

1. to hazard (money, etc) on a result
2. to invest in or support by supplying with money, etc: to stake a business enterprise

Etymology: 16th Century: of uncertain origin