Pronunciation: /steɪk aʊt/

Definitions of stake out

noun a place where someone keeps watch or observes a location secretly

Example Sentences

A1 I saw a stake out in the ground while walking in the park.

A2 The stake out marked the boundary of the construction site.

B1 The detective set up a stake out to catch the criminal in the act.

B2 The protesters organized a stake out in front of the government building.

C1 The journalist conducted a stake out to gather information for the article.

C2 The military used a stake out to monitor enemy movements in the area.

verb to watch or observe a location secretly, typically for investigative purposes

Example Sentences

A1 The detective staked out the building to catch the thief.

A2 The reporter staked out the celebrity's house for a story.

B1 The police staked out the suspected drug dealer's hideout for days.

B2 The paparazzi staked out the hotel where the royal family was staying.

C1 The special forces team staked out the terrorist compound for weeks before making their move.

C2 The intelligence agency staked out the foreign embassy to gather information.

Examples of stake out in a Sentence

formal The detective decided to stake out the suspect's house in order to gather more information.

informal Let's stake out the new restaurant before we decide to eat there.

slang We should totally stake out the party tonight to see who shows up.

figurative She felt like she was staking out her territory in the competitive industry.

Grammatical Forms of stake out

past tense

staked out

plural

stake outs

comparative

more stake out

superlative

most stake out

present tense

stake out

future tense

will stake out

perfect tense

have staked out

continuous tense

is staking out

singular

stake out

positive degree

stake out

infinitive

to stake out

gerund

staking out

participle

staked out

Origin and Evolution of stake out

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The term 'stake out' originated from the practice of using stakes or posts to mark boundaries or claim territory.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in a literal sense to mark boundaries or claim territory, 'stake out' evolved to also mean to keep watch or surveillance over a location or person, especially in a law enforcement context.