at stake
- idiom
- As the global marketplace becomes increasingly integrated, much is at stake for the economic welfare of Africa.
- much is at stake
- issues at stake
- interests at stake
And you know, what is at stake is truly profound.
- And you know, what is at stake is truly profound.
- And I think that's that's what's at stake here with finance.
- Sure, sure, OK, there's a lot at stake in this upcoming election, as you know.
- In every one of these cases, what's at stake is the nature of federalism.
- Obviously with live events you got way more at stake, way more work, production cost.
- And I'll notice that, you know, and I have nothing at stake in that.
- I mean, I think each character needs to have something at stake.
- I understand what is at stake and that is how I'm basing my decision.
Examples
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We both know you have considerably more at stake here than I do.
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Of course there are lives at stake... whole nations, in fact.
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And much is at stake for us and for the world.
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And much is at stake, for us and for the world.
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And something is really at stake in this election.
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There is too much at stake to pull back.
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And remember-- it's not only your career at stake... it's his, too.
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Could you just tell us what is at stake for Americans with this issue?
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Our liberty and freedom and the nature and character of our culture is at stake.
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In the upcoming negotiation, the future of the project is at stake.
Synonyms
At risk of being lost or harmed because of how something turns out
Antonyms
How Risky
Surface Forms
Morphology
at + stake
The phrase combines 'at' (locative/state preposition) with 'stake' in the sense of a wager or interest, so the meaning 'in risk or up for gain or loss' is directly inferable from the constituents. This compositional pattern (something being 'at stake'/'on stake') is common cross-linguistically and follows standard English preposition + noun semantics, making it readily understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
At stake comes from old betting: people would put money or goods on a stake as their bet. So, if something was on the stake it could be lost or won, and today at stake means 'at risk' or that something important may be gained or lost.