stakes

/steɪks/
verb
  1. To risk money or something valuable on the outcome of a game, race, or event.
    • She decided to stake her entire savings on the startup company.
    • They staked their reputation on the success of the new product.
    • He staked fifty dollars on the football game.
  2. To mark an area or claim something by driving stakes or by making a clear statement.
    • The explorer staked a claim to the land by planting a flag.
    • He staked his position on the issue during the debate.
    • She staked out her territory in the office by decorating her desk.
  3. To support or secure something with a stake.
    • They staked the fence posts into the ground to keep them upright.
    • The gardener staked the bean plants so they wouldn't fall over.
    • We staked the young tree to help it grow straight.
Synonyms
noun
  1. The money or something valuable that a player risks in a game or bet.
    • He placed his stakes on the black horse to win the race.
    • She lost her entire stakes in the first round of the card game.
    • The poker players raised their stakes as the night went on.
  2. The things that can be gained or lost in a situation; the level of risk or importance involved.
    • The stakes are high in this election, with control of the government at risk.
    • With the deadline approaching, the stakes for finishing the project grew higher.
    • In a medical emergency, the stakes can be a matter of life and death.
  3. A pointed stick or post that is driven into the ground, often used to support something or mark a boundary.
    • We used wooden stakes to hold up the tomato plants in the garden.
    • The surveyor drove stakes into the ground to mark the property line.
    • Campers hammered stakes into the soil to secure their tent.