at stake

Idioms  

1. At risk to be won or lost, as in We have a great deal at stake in this transaction. This phrase uses stake in the sense of something that is wagered. Shakespeare used it in Troilus and Cressida (3:3): “I see my reputation is at stake.” [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

With all of that in mind, Jude Bellingham knew exactly what was at stake in Munich.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

With large unpaid sums at stake, tax evasion counts as a felony that can lead to prison time.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

But to reach its full potential, No Kings needs to explicitly name what is at stake in moral terms.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

These cases are not a slam dunk for the plaintiffs or defendants on appeal; with so much money at stake, the upcoming battle will be brutal for both.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Since 1400 theologians had been discussing what they called ‘moral certainty’—evidence good enough to rely on, even if there is a great deal at stake.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton