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stake
The word carries a heavy tension between physical stability and high-risk instability. In its literal sense, it is about grounding and securing something firmly in place, creating a fixed point of support.
In a financial or emotional sense, it evokes a feeling of vulnerability and danger. When someone has a stake in something, they are no longer a passive observer; they are exposed to potential loss, creating a psychological state of urgency and investment.
Countable when referring to a physical post or a specific bet. Uncountable when referring to the general concept of risk or the total amount of money being gambled.
Meanings
A strong wooden or metal post driven into the ground.
He drove a stake into the soil to support the vine.
A sum of money or something of value risked in a gamble or venture.
The gambler put a high stake on the final horse.
A share or percentage of ownership in a business.
She holds a twenty percent stake in the startup.
To support a plant with a post.
You should stake the tomatoes so they grow straight.
Examples
Drive the stake deep.
The stakes are high.
I have a stake.
He used a stake for the plant.
They put a small stake on it.
She bought a stake in the shop.
The vampire was killed by a wooden stake.
I will stake my career on this deal.
We need to stake these lilies immediately.
The venture capitalist decided to stake the new tech firm.
The stakes of the diplomatic negotiation were incredibly high.
He risked his entire estate as a stake in the game.
Phrasal Verbs
stake out
to watch a place secretly to see who enters or leaves
The police staked out the warehouse for three nights.
stake on
to bet or rely on a specific outcome
I would not stake my reputation on his ability to finish the project on time.