stake
stake
Pronunciation
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) spelling for stake is /steɪk/.
Syllable 1: /steɪk/
/s/: A voiceless alveolar fricative, the 's' sound in "sun."
/t/: A voiceless alveolar plosive, the 't' sound in "top."
/eɪ/: A diphthong, the long 'a' sound in "play" or "rain."
/k/: A voiceless velar plosive, the 'k' sound in "kite."
Word Form Variations
Singular: stake
Plural: stakes
Verb (Present): stake
Verb (Present, 3rd Person Singular): stakes
Verb (Past Tense): staked
Verb (Present Participle/Gerund): staking
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A strong, pointed post, typically made of wood or metal, driven into the ground to serve as a marker, support, or part of a fence.
Synonyms: post, pole, spike, picket, pale
Antonyms: hole, depression, indentation
A sum of money or something of value that is risked in a gamble, contest, or venture. It represents what can be won or lost. 💰
Synonyms: wager, bet, ante, prize, pot
Antonyms: certainty, guarantee, assurance
A personal or emotional interest, share, or involvement in an undertaking or system, implying that one has something to gain or lose from its outcome.
Synonyms: interest, investment, concern, share, claim
Antonyms: indifference, disinterest, detachment
Verb
To mark boundaries, claim an area, or provide support for something by driving stakes into the ground.
Synonyms: mark out, delimit, demarcate, support, brace
Antonyms: remove, uproot, unfasten
To risk money or something of value on the outcome of an event; to bet or wager.
Synonyms: bet, wager, risk, gamble, pledge
Antonyms: insure, protect, safeguard
Examples of Use
As a Noun
A Physical Post
In Literature: In Bram Stoker's classic novel Dracula, the ultimate weapon against the vampire is a wooden stake driven through his heart. This has become a cornerstone of vampire lore.
In General Discourse: A gardener giving advice might say, "You'll need a tall stake to support the tomato plant as it grows, otherwise the vine will collapse under the weight of the fruit." 🍅
In Entertainment: On the reality TV show Survivor, contestants often use sharpened sticks and branches as stakes to build their shelters or secure fishing traps.
A Wager or Investment
In Newspapers: "Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has built a stake in the insurance firm Chubb worth $6.7 billion, a regulatory filing revealed, a significant new investment that had been kept secret for months." (Reuters, May 2024)
In Online Publications: A tech industry analyst might write, "By acquiring a 10% stake in the AI startup, the corporation signals its serious intent to dominate the next wave of computing."
In Entertainment: In the film Casino Royale, the high-stakes poker game is central to the plot, where James Bond must win to bankrupt the villain, Le Chiffre. The final stake in the pot is over $100 million.
A Personal Interest or Involvement
In Public Discourse: During a town hall meeting, a community leader might declare, "Every resident has a stake in the safety and prosperity of our town; this isn't just an issue for the city council."
In Books (Non-Fiction): In her book Daring Greatly, Brené Brown discusses how vulnerability and courage give us a greater stake in our own lives and relationships.
In Online Editorials: An opinion piece on climate change could argue, "Younger generations have the biggest stake in the planet's future, and their voices must be central to policy discussions."
As a Verb
To Mark or Support with a Post
In Historical Context: During the American westward expansion, pioneers and prospectors would stake their claim to a piece of land by driving posts into the ground to mark its boundaries.
In General Discourse: A camper explaining how to set up a tent would instruct, "Pull the guylines tight and then stake them firmly into the ground to keep the tent stable in the wind." ⛺
In Entertainment: In the video game Red Dead Redemption 2, players can set up a campsite for their character, which involves an animation of Arthur Morgan hammering pegs to stake down his tent.
To Wager or Risk
In Newspapers: A political headline might read, "The Prime Minister is preparing to stake his political future on a controversial new tax plan, hoping it will revive the struggling economy." (The Guardian)
In Online Publications: A movie review could state, "The director stakes the entire emotional weight of the film on the lead actor's performance, a risky move that ultimately pays off."
In Literature: In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, the character Antonio stakes a pound of his own flesh in a bond with the moneylender Shylock, risking his life for his friend.
10 Famous Quotes Using Stake
"I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course." (William Shakespeare, King Lear)
"I have a great stake in this contest; I have a great desire that this Massachusetts man should be respected in the world." (Henry David Thoreau)
"The future of our planet is at stake." (Ban Ki-moon)
"Every man is in business for himself, and he has a right to be in business for himself, and to have a stake in the country." (Gifford Pinchot)
"Our nation's freedom and security are at stake." (George W. Bush)
"...that the twenty-first century will see a new burst of missionary zeal, with a laity who are holy and who have a great stake in the Church's life." (Pope Francis)
With a simple wooden stake, he marked the boundary of his dream in the vast, unforgiving wilderness.
In the lore of the old lands, only a wooden stake driven through the heart could grant the undead a final peace.
He pushed all his chips to the center of the table, a silent declaration that his entire fortune was the stake.
Every entrepreneur knows that to build something great, you must first have a personal stake in the outcome.
Etymology
From Pointed Stick to High-Stakes Bet
At its core, the word stake comes from the idea of a simple, sharp stick.
The word traces back to the ancient Proto-Germanic term *stakon-, which meant "a stick" or "post." This entered Old English as staca, referring to a pointed post or peg driven into the ground. Its first known use was for very practical things: marking territory, building fences, or even for the grim purpose of execution by impalement or burning at the stake.
So, how did we get from a physical post to betting money or having a "stake" in a company? The connection comes from the world of gambling and contests.
Around the 16th century, when people made a bet, they would physically place their wager (money or valuable items) onto a post or "stake" in a public place. The winner of the contest or bet would then get to "sweep the stakes," meaning they took everything that had been piled up. From this practice, the word stake evolved to mean the prize money or wager itself.
From there, the meaning became even more abstract. By the 1700s, people started using stake to describe any personal interest or investment in an undertaking. Just like a gambler has money riding on a game, a person could have their reputation, future, or well-being "at stake," meaning they had something to gain or lose from the outcome.
In short, the word's journey went like this:
A physical object: A pointed wooden post (staca).
A physical action: The pile of money placed on a post for a bet.
An abstract concept: The bet itself, and later, any personal interest or risk involved in a situation.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Stake
At stake
Meaning: At risk; in a position to be won or lost.
Example: "With the championship on the line, everything they had worked for was at stake."
Raise the stakes
Meaning: To increase the level of risk, pressure, or importance in a situation.
Example: "He raised the stakes by betting his car on the final hand."
High stakes
Meaning: Describing a situation that involves a significant risk for a potentially large reward.
Example: "It was a high-stakes negotiation with the future of the company hanging in the balance."
Stake a claim
Meaning: To assert a right or ownership over something.
Example: "The tech company moved quickly to stake its claim in the new virtual reality market."
Pull up stakes
Meaning: To leave your home, job, or current situation and move to a new location.
Example: "After living in the city for twenty years, they decided to pull up stakes and move to the countryside."
Have a stake in (something)
Meaning: To have a personal interest or investment in the outcome of a situation.
Example: "As a shareholder, she has a direct stake in the company's success."
A stake in the ground
Meaning: A firm decision, action, or statement that serves as a starting point or declares a clear position.
Example: "The CEO's announcement was a stake in the ground, signaling a major shift in the company's strategy."
A stake through the heart
Meaning: A decisive action or event that completely destroys a plan, hope, or entity. 💔
Example: "The competitor's new product was a stake through the heart of our sales projections."
Burned at the stake
Meaning: To be subjected to severe and often public criticism or punishment.
Example: "For his unpopular opinion, the politician was metaphorically burned at the stake by the media."
Sweep the stakes
Meaning: To win everything that is being wagered or competed for.
Example: "The victorious team swept the stakes, taking home the trophy, the prize money, and the title."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of stake from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
