high-stakes

Language: en

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Involving or characterized by a large amount of risk, potential loss, or potential gain; where the consequences of success or failure are very significant.; Relating to gambling or betting in which large sums of money are wagered.; Involving important decisions or tests that carry serious consequences for those involved, such as standardized tests that determine graduation or funding.; Characterized by intense competition, pressure, or tension due to the importance of the outcome.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Collocations

high-stakes pokerhigh-stakes gamblinghigh-stakes negotiationshigh-stakes testinghigh-stakes environmenthigh-stakes decision

Synonyms

high-riskhigh-pressurecriticalcrucialdo-or-die

Antonyms

low-stakeslow-risktrivial

Commonly confused

high stakes
EN: 'High stakes' (no hyphen) is a noun phrase meaning large risks or rewards; 'high-stakes' (hyphenated) is the compound adjective used before a noun.
high-stake
EN: 'High-stake' without the final 's' is nonstandard; the correct adjectival form is always 'high-stakes'.

Spelling tips

EN: Always hyphenate 'high-stakes' when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., 'a high-stakes game'). Do not drop the final 's'—'high-stake' is incorrect.

💬 Examples

  1. The negotiations were a high-stakes affair that could determine the future of the entire company.

  2. He was a regular at the high-stakes poker tables in Las Vegas.

  3. Many educators criticize high-stakes testing for placing too much pressure on students and teachers.

  4. The high-stakes environment of Wall Street attracts ambitious young professionals.