at stake

Idioms

At risk to be won or lost, as in We have a great deal at stake in this transaction. This phrase uses stake in the sense of something that is wagered. Shakespeare used it in Troilus and Cressida (3:3): “I see my reputation is at stake.” [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At stake is the unfreezing of billions of dollars, providing a huge incentive for Iran, as it faces soaring inflation and the collapse of its export-driven economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

At stake is both military supremacy—rare earths are used in jet-fighter engines and weapons—and control over civilian supply chains that currently are hooked on China’s minerals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

At stake is the first-mover advantage in an electric air taxi market that could eventually include autonomous aircraft.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

At stake is the future of one of the world's most valuable start-ups, ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, along with the reputations of Altman - the company's boss - and Musk, the man he founded it with.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

At stake, after all, is the world’s greatest forest.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023