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

"We didn't abandon seatbelts because people didn't want to buckle up, and we will not flinch at holding tech companies to account when our littlest citizens are at stake."

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Amid the safety debate, the economics of electricity generation and distribution were at stake.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

With its economy and global reputation heavily intertwined with Hollywood’s allure and ability to survive, California had more at stake in the negotiations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

But Samuel Gill, editor of Dartnews.com, suggests Littler's future in the sport could be at stake.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Hamilton believed—and he had a good deal of evidence to support his belief—that the very survival of the infant American nation was at stake.

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

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