at stake

Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

There’s a lot of money at stake for the 2026 draft class — which means there’s also a lot to lose.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 23, 2026

The buzz: There’s not much at stake since the U.S. has won the group and Turkey has been eliminated.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron last month called for a "European equivalent of Section 301" -- the trade tool Trump has employed to set sweeping tariffs -- arguing Europe's "sovereignty is at stake".

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

While central bankers need to consider multiple factors, they must avoid acting too late when price stability is at stake, he added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

He was not being characteristically diplomatic when he claimed that Madison and Hamilton both understood the issues at stake more fully than he did.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis