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.

“So it’s not just Mono Lake that’s at stake here. It’s the credibility of our legal system and our regulatory system.“

From Los Angeles Times

“Forcing these dedicated officers to work without pay — yet again— is not only unfair, it’s reckless. The security of travelers and the country is at stake,” the letter said.

From MarketWatch

Two of the teams fighting relegation meet on Sunday when Tottenham host Nottingham Forest, but are there more than just points at stake?

From BBC

There are not just bragging rights at stake on Sunday.

From BBC

The future of Iran isn’t the only thing at stake.

From The Wall Street Journal

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