stakes 1 of 2

Definition of stakesnext
plural of stake
1
as in interests
a legal right to participation in the advantages, profits, and responsibility of something if I invest in your business, I expect a stake in it in return

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in bets
the money or thing risked on the outcome of an uncertain event lost his entire stake with a single roll of the dice

Synonyms & Similar Words

stakes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stake

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stakes
Noun
Romantasy books blend the best of both the fantasy and romance genres, delivering high-stakes political conflicts, endless action and plot twists, and, of course, swoon-worthy love. De Elizabeth, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026 The Arabasta storyline carries high emotional stakes and political intrigue. Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026 The 98th Academy Awards was the first ceremony in years where the races had actual stakes in a showdown between Sinners and One Battle After Another, two ambitious trips through American history. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2026 The Nuggets, meanwhile, are about to get a break from especially high-stakes games after facing four Western Conference playoff teams last week. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026 The high-stakes event kicks off with Selection Sunday, and the first game follows a couple days after. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 15 Mar. 2026 The high-stakes, sudden-death college basketball tournament is a beloved tradition in American sports. NPR, 15 Mar. 2026 Anchor stakes should fit down inside the pot without bending. Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026 Birdville aims to take down 5A kingpin With just about 10 seconds left in a Class 5A Division I regional final, Birdville’s Avery Webb stepped back for what could be the highest stakes shot of the UIL Texas high school basketball season. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
Small towns may have the majority of oceanfront real estate, but Pensacola stakes its claim with more than 50 miles of white-sand shoreline. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026 That is, until Vlad arrives and stakes a claim on her every waking thought. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026 The majority stakes the largest detention initiative in American history on the possibility that … Congress must have wanted these noncitizens detained—some of them the spouses, mothers, fathers, and grandparents of American citizens. Ben Fenwick, Oklahoma Watch, 12 Feb. 2026 For the Chinese Communist Party, which stakes its claim to legitimacy on defeating Japanese invaders during World War II, that would be an unforgivable outrage. Andy Browne, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026 Mexicali stakes a claim to the clamato cocktail, a heady blend of vodka, clam juice and other ingredients invented in the 1960s by a bartender at the city’s Acueducto Piano Bar. Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 San Miguel Chapel Located along the Old Santa Fe Trail in the Barrio de Analco Historic District, this Spanish colonial mission church stakes its claim as the oldest in the United States. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026 The Scout, originally produced by International Harvester from 1961 to 1980, stakes its claim as the world’s first utility vehicle. Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2026 Gliding gracefully through the mix of styles and languages — from Mandarin and Arabic to German and her native Spanish — Rosalia further stakes her claim as one of most fascinating voices in music today. Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stakes
Noun
  • The opponents alleged the money stemmed from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which advocates for Israel’s interests and supports both Democrats and Republicans.
    Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interests.
    Ubah Ali, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Chase Silseth, who is out of options, and Sam Bachman, who has had an outstanding spring, also seem like strong bets.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Unlike Kalshi, Polymarket users can place wagers on international conflicts — even though the Commodity Exchange Act bans war bets.
    Luke Garrett, NPR, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • None would impact school budgets, but instead would impose cuts on the portions of a homeowner’s property-tax bill that funds city and county governments.
    Douglas Hanks March 13, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
  • His experiments are saved by Henrich Harlander (Christoph Waltz), a wealthy benefactor who funds Victor's work.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • That ratio puts the live-action series early in its journey through the source material.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
  • The light-catching final result puts an frosty twist on the glazed donut nail trend.
    Grace McCarty, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Michigan automakers are also suffering, with Ford shares down 15% and General Motors off 8% since the start of the conflict, as higher energy costs threaten both production expenses and consumer demand.
    Benzinga, Freep.com, 14 Mar. 2026
  • That’s based on the number of outstanding shares as of March 4, the record date of the annual meeting, as shown in the proxy statement.
    Alex Crippen, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In the Arizona filing, Attorney General Kris Mayes charged Kalshi with 20 counts of accepting various bets in Arizona without a license, including wagers on state elections, which is separately and explicitly forbidden under Arizona law.
    Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
  • In Israel, a civilian and a military reservist were arrested last month for allegedly using secret intelligence to place Polymarket wagers on military operations.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • After becoming governor the second time in 2011, Jerry Brown proposed a major overhaul of how California finances public education.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
  • The group will use the Chicago Prize to bolster the coalition’s existing revolving loan fund that finances new home construction.
    Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stakes. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.

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