raise the stake

USAGE SUMMARY

"raise the stake" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to increase the amount of something at risk, often in a competitive or risky situation. Example: "The negotiations were getting intense as both parties decided to raise the stakes in order to reach a more favorable agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

He used the money to raise the stake in health care companies to nearly 30percentt of the portfolio, up from the midteens.

The New York Times

The bid includes a one-time dividend of 2.1 cents a share and a pledge to raise the stake held by employees to 24.9percentt from 14.9percentt.

The New York Times

This valued the Formula One franchise at a bargain level of $1.9 billion, and the firm had an option to raise the stake to 50%.

Forbes

Peterffy originally planned to sell just 5% of the company, but heavy demand pent up during the three-week road show convinced him to raise the stake to 10%.

Forbes

"These [mining] companies' actions raise the stake significantly in these areas," Moore said, adding that even if they have not been found directly responsible for the violence, they have a responsibility to try and find a solution.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Collins seemed to raise the stakes.

The New York Times - Sports

There's "Raise the stakes!

The Guardian

Mr. Anderson continues to raise the stakes.

The New York Times

But he did not raise the stakes.

The New Yorker

HIRSCHBERG: "Let's raise the stakes"?

The New York Times - Magazine

But North Korea could yet raise the stakes again.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "raise the stake" when you want to convey increasing the level of risk or investment in a venture. This phrase is particularly effective in contexts involving negotiations, competition, or strategic decision-making.

Common error

Avoid using "raise the stakes" when you specifically refer to increasing an ownership percentage or investment amount, as "stake" in the singular refers to that specific share or investment. "Stakes" refers to what can be won or lost in a situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "raise the stake" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of increasing a specific share or investment. Ludwig shows that this phrase is used to describe augmenting a financial interest or commitment in a specific entity or project.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "raise the stake" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe increasing a particular share or investment. Although less common than "raise the stakes", it is appropriate when referring to a specific financial interest. Ludwig shows that its use is primarily found in news and media, often highlighting strategic business decisions. When writing, remember to use "raise the stake" when the context involves increasing a tangible ownership share, and consider alternatives like "increase the investment" or "escalate the commitment" for broader applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase the investment

Focuses specifically on increasing the amount of money or resources committed.

escalate the commitment

Highlights the intensification of dedication or involvement.

heighten the risk

Emphasizes the increase in potential danger or negative consequences.

boost the wager

Implies increasing the amount bet or gambled in a situation.

amplify the involvement

Stresses a greater degree of participation or engagement.

augment the liability

Highlights the increase in responsibility or potential loss.

magnify the jeopardy

Suggests a significant increase in danger or threat.

intensify the participation

Focuses on making involvement more active and pronounced.

expand the exposure

Indicates broadening the degree to which one is subject to potential harm or benefit.

aggravate the danger

Emphasizes making a perilous situation even more critical.

FAQs

What does "raise the stake" mean?

Raising the stake means increasing the level of risk, investment, or commitment in a particular situation, often in negotiations or competitive scenarios.

When is it appropriate to use "raise the stake" in writing?

Use "raise the stake" when you want to convey a deliberate increase in the level of risk or investment in a situation, such as business deals or strategic decisions. It's about making the situation more consequential.

What are some alternative phrases for "raise the stake"?

You can use alternatives like "increase the investment", "heighten the risk", or "escalate the commitment", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "raise the stakes" instead of "raise the stake"?

While "raise the stakes" is a more common expression and refers to increasing what can be won or lost in a situation generally, "raise the stake" refers to increasing a specific share or investment in something.