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 what right people in Wisconsin have to take a shoreline stroll.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 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 a $5 million cash prize.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

At stake, she said, is the "history" that the building contains.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2025

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