1. at stake - Adverb
2. at stake - Phrase
to be won or lost; at risk
in question or at issue
Source: WordNetNames and individuals are unimportant when Germany's final fate is at stake. Franz von Papen
Torture is an impermissible evil. Except under two circumstances. The first is the ticking time bomb. An innocent's life is at stake. The bad guy you have captured possesses information that could save this life. He refuses to divulge. In such a case, the choice is easy. Charles Krauthammer
Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of. And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake. Viktor Frankl
The survival of the United States of America as we know it is at risk. And even more - if more should be required - the future of human civilization is at stake. Al Gore
For our country to be safe from terrorists we must stabilize Iraq and show that it can be done and take out these terrorist organizations who would harm Americans. Our freedom is at stake here. Kay Bailey Hutchison
Available energy is the main object at stake in the struggle for existence and the evolution of the world. Ludwig Boltzmann