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

See Examples For:

at stake

Alonso knew what was at stake, that if Hamilton passed him quickly, the Briton would almost certainly win the race.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

What’s at stake today—and how worried should everyone actually be?

From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2026

While there is no sign of market panic yet, periodic spasms in the bond market—including the recent jump in Treasury yields to 24-year highs—give a hint of what’s at stake.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026

"What matters now is swift and consistent implementation," Volkswagen's chief financial officer Arno Antlitz said, warning that the company's ability to invest in future technologies was at stake.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026

Kaan and Mutal had a lot at stake.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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