At Stake: Meaning, Examples, Usage, Origin, and Quiz
At risk or in danger of being lost.
Quick Meaning of “At Stake”
At stake means something important is at risk or could be lost depending on what happens.
Example: Thousands of jobs are at stake if the company closes.
What Does “At Stake” Mean?
The idiom “at stake” means that something valuable, important, or serious is at risk and may be lost, damaged, or affected by the result of a situation.
In simple terms, if something important depends on the outcome of a decision, event, or problem, it is at stake.
Meaning in Real Usage
In real English usage, “at stake” is commonly used in business, jobs, money, reputation, safety, relationships, exams, politics, legal matters, sports, and any situation where something important could be lost.
Examples of “At Stake” in Sentences
Thousands of jobs are at stake if the company closes.
His reputation is at stake after the serious mistake.
With millions of dollars at stake, the board carefully reviewed every possible risk before approving the project.
Is This Idiom Formal or Informal?
“At stake” is a neutral and professional-friendly idiom. It works well in everyday conversation, workplace English, business writing, news-style writing, legal contexts, academic essays, and formal discussions.
Real-Life Scenario
A company is deciding whether to close a factory. If the factory closes, many workers may lose their jobs. In this situation, thousands of jobs are at stake.
How to Use This Idiom Naturally
Use “at stake” when something important may be lost, damaged, or affected by a situation.
It is especially useful when talking about risk, consequences, decisions, reputation, money, jobs, safety, and serious outcomes.
Why Not Just Say “At Risk”?
Saying “at stake” often sounds stronger and more serious than simply saying “at risk.” It suggests that the result matters because something valuable could be gained, lost, protected, or damaged.
Common Mistake with “At Stake”
Do not confuse “at stake” with “a stake” as a physical object. In this idiom, at stake means at risk or in danger of being lost.
Similar Idioms to “At Stake”
These related idioms and expressions describe risk, danger, consequences, and important outcomes.
Opposite Expressions
Opposite ideas include: “safe and secure”, “out of danger”, and “not at risk”, which describe situations where there is little or no danger of loss.
Origin of the Idiom “At Stake”
Did you know?
The phrase “at stake” is connected to the idea of something valuable being placed as a stake in a contest, bet, or risky situation.
Over time, it became a common English idiom for anything important that could be lost, affected, or decided by an outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions About “At Stake”
What does “at stake” mean?
It means at risk or in danger of being lost.
Is “at stake” formal or informal?
It is neutral and works well in both everyday and professional English.
Can I use “at stake” in business English?
Yes. It is very common in business English when discussing jobs, money, reputation, risk, decisions, and serious outcomes.
Quick Practice: Test Your Understanding of “At Stake”
Test your understanding of the idiom “at stake” with these quick questions.
Question 1 - Meaning: What does “at stake” mean?
Question 2 - Sentence Usage: Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Question 3 - Context: When is this idiom commonly used?
Question 4 - Similar Expression: Which expression has a similar meaning?
Question 5 - Common Usage: What should you remember?
Key Takeaways
- “At stake” means at risk or in danger of being lost.
- It is commonly used for jobs, money, reputation, safety, relationships, and serious decisions.
- It works well in both everyday and professional English.
- It should not be confused with a physical stake or food-related words.
Final Learning Note
“At stake” is a useful intermediate problem idiom for talking about risk, danger, and serious consequences. Learn it when you want to describe something important that could be lost, damaged, or affected by an outcome.