Definitions

stake out

VERB

claim

Synonyms

STRONGEST

allege ask assert believe call for challenge collect declare defend hold insist need take

STRONG

adduce advance exact hit justify knock postulate pretend profess pronounce require requisition solicit uphold vindicate

WEAK

have dibs on something hit up hold out for lay claim to pick up pop the question

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abandon answer deny desert disbelieve forsake give quit reject repudiate stop

STRONG

conceal hide

WEAK

disclaim question

VERB

define

Synonyms

STRONGEST

delineate distinguish establish limit mark set

STRONG

belt border bound circumscribe compass confine curb demarcate edge encircle enclose encompass envelop fix flank gird girdle rim settle surround verge

WEAK

fence in mark out set bounds to wall in

Antonyms

STRONG

aid assist center free help let go lose open release unloose unsettle

WEAK

confuse distort tangle twist

VERB

investigate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

consider examine explore inspect interrogate probe question review scrutinize search study

STRONG

bug case delve dig eyeball frisk inquire muckrake poke prospect pry read reconnoiter research scout sift spy tap wiretap

WEAK

be all ears check out check over check up feel out give the once-over go into inquisite listen in look into look over make inquiry nose around put to the test run down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

answer forget ignore neglect reply

STRONG

leave alone overlook

VERB

mark

Synonyms

STRONGEST

demonstrate feature identify illustrate indicate show signify

STRONG

bespeak betoken brand denote designate distinguish earmark evidence evince exemplify exhibit individualize individuate label manifest proclaim qualify remark signalize singularize stamp

WEAK

check off mark off ostend point out point up set apart show up

VERB

scout

Synonyms

STRONGEST

examine explore inspect

STRONG

case ferret hunt observe probe reconnoiter search seek spot spy survey watch

WEAK

have a look-see look for run reconnaissance rustle up set eyes on take in track down

Antonyms

STRONG

find ignore neglect overlook

WEAK

shun

VERB

spy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

discover examine scrutinize snoop

STRONG

case eyeball glimpse meddle notice observe peep pry reconnoiter scout search shadow sleuth spot stag tail trail view watch

WEAK

catch sight of fish out get a load of keep under surveillance look for recon set eyes on take in take note

Antonyms

STRONG

ignore miss neglect overlook

VERB

survey

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assess canvass check check out estimate evaluate examine inspect look over observe overlook oversee review scan supervise

STRONG

appraise assay case contemplate measure plan plot prospect rate read reconnoiter research scope size study summarize superintend valuate value view

WEAK

check over check up give the once-over look upon set at size up test the waters

Antonyms

STRONGEST

follow forget ignore neglect serve

NOUN

vigil

Synonyms

STRONGEST

observance patrol

STRONG

attention awareness duty guard lookout monitoring notice observation surveillance vigilance watchfulness

WEAK

eagle eye nightwatch stakeout

Antonyms

STRONG

disregard heedlessness ignorance indifference neglect negligence

NOUN

surveillance

Synonyms

STRONGEST

care control examination inspection scrutiny supervision vigilance wiretap

STRONG

bug direction eye lookout spying stakeout superintendence tab tail tap track vigil watch

WEAK

body mike bugging eagle eye peeled eye surveyance

Antonyms

STRONGEST

carelessness ignorance neglect negligence

WEAK

indifference unobservance

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That has prompted many in the reformist camp to stake out much bolder positions against the regime, putting them at risk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Certain members agreed to stake out high-traffic locations during their lunch breaks, or if they were working remotely.

From Slate • Oct. 27, 2025

“Peacemaker” isn’t covering any ground that many other movies and TV shows didn’t stake out first.

From Salon • Aug. 21, 2025

His longest stake out was a nine-hour watch for a black-crowned night heron near Wakefield, which he finally saw for three or four seconds.

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2024

“She’s not going to pull her stake out or anything, is she?”

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

stake out

Example Sentences

Related Words