noun
Common
stakes
stayks
Stakes (noun) means Money or property risked on the outcome of a bet or contest. Example: “We played cards for tiny stakes, just a few sweets each.”
noun
1
Money or property risked on the outcome of a bet or contest.
"We played cards for tiny stakes, just a few sweets each."
"The stakes in the poker game grew higher with every round."
"She raised the stakes by betting her car on the final hand."
2
What stands to be gained or lost in a situation; the risks involved.
"Nobody slept well because the stakes of the interview felt so enormous."
"The stakes were too high for the company to ignore the warning."
"With the deadline looming, the stakes couldn't be higher for the negotiating team."
How to use stakes
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat you could win or lose, whether in gambling or in a serious situation.
Common pairings
high stakes
raise the stakes
the stakes are high
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We played cards for tiny _____, just a few sweets each.
Related words
Rhymes for stakes
See all rhymes for stakes →Frequently asked questions
What does “stakes” mean?
The word “stakes” means money or property risked on the outcome of a bet or contest. In plain terms, what you could win or lose, whether in gambling or in a serious situation.
How do you pronounce “stakes”?
“Stakes” is pronounced stayks (/steɪks/ in IPA).
How do you use “stakes” in a sentence?
Here is “stakes” used in a sentence: “The stakes in the poker game grew higher with every round.”
What part of speech is “stakes”?
“Stakes” is a noun.
Is “stakes” a common word?
“Stakes” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stakes” have?
“Stakes” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: money or property risked on the outcome of a bet or contest.
Is stakes singular or plural?
In the betting and risk senses, the word is normally plural: the stakes are high, or playing for high stakes. The singular stake refers to one person's amount risked or their share or interest in something, as in a stake in the company.
What is the difference between stakes and steaks?
They are homophones. Stakes are money or property risked on an outcome, or more broadly whatever stands to be gained or lost in a situation. Steaks are thick slices of meat or fish, so writing "the steaks are high" is an error unless it is a deliberate pun.
