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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.

On the ground, Israeli troops have crossed the border to search homes and stake out what the military calls forward defensive positions on strategic hilltops.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 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

“Any undergraduate could see that nuclear physics using artificial beams of high-energy protons and helium ions was such a field, and ... he should stake out a territory there to work and grow in.”

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik