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.

See Examples For:

at stake

What “One Night Only” makes so apparent is that our personal pleasure is at stake in this environment.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said pregame that the players know what is at stake during the final stretch of the season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Chevron has a lot at stake in the region.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

"When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," Uefa said in a statement.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

With so much at stake, they had to step in.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

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