1
: a pointed piece of wood or other material driven or to be driven into the ground as a marker or support
2
a
: a post to which a person is bound for execution by burning
b
: execution by burning at a stake
3
a
: something that is staked for gain or loss
b
: the prize in a contest
c
: an interest or share in an undertaking or enterprise
4
: a Mormon territorial jurisdiction comprising a group of wards
5
6
: stakes race
—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
staked; staking
1
: to mark the limits of by or as if by stakes
2
: to tether to a stake
4
: to fasten up or support (something, such as a plant) with stakes
5
: to back financially
6
Synonyms
Examples of stake in a Sentence
Noun
Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.
a poker game with high stakes
The stakes are too high.
Verb
She staked the tomatoes to keep them from falling over.
the actor staked the entire production of the film with his own money
Recent Examples on the Web
Darius Tahir, NPR, 22 Nov. 2024
But she’s been more inspired by modern tales like Brave, Moana, Encanto and of course Frozen, where the female protagonists have more at stake than just finding love.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 22 Nov. 2024
Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024
Giancarlo Stanton's home run against Ryan Brasier in the fifth inning staked the Yankees to a 5-0 lead, with no sign of the momentum shifting against Cole.
—Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stake 
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Noun
Oz also had smaller stakes in CVS Health, which now includes the insurer Aetna, and in the insurer Cigna.
—Darius Tahir, NPR, 22 Nov. 2024
But she’s been more inspired by modern tales like Brave, Moana, Encanto and of course Frozen, where the female protagonists have more at stake than just finding love.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
First elected in 2018, Slotkin has staked a reputation of being a moderate in Congress while being a formidable fundraiser and campaigner too, running ahead of top-of-ticket Democrats in her mid-Michigan district.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024
Giancarlo Stanton's home run against Ryan Brasier in the fifth inning staked the Yankees to a 5-0 lead, with no sign of the momentum shifting against Cole.
—Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stake
Dictionary Entries Near stake
Cite this Entry
“Stake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stake. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stake
1 of 2 noun1
: a pointed piece (as of wood or metal) driven or to be driven into the ground especially as a marker or support
2
: a post to which a person is bound for execution by burning
3
a
: something that is staked for gain or loss
b
: the prize in a contest
c
: an interest or share in a business
4
stake
2 of 2 verb
staked; staking
1
a
: to mark the limits of by stakes
stake out a mining claim
b
: to tie to a stake
c
: to fasten up or support (as plants) with stakes
2
b
: to back financially
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