Meaning of the word "stake out" in English

What does "stake out" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

stake out

US /steɪk aʊt/

UK /steɪk aʊt/

to watch a place or person secretly, especially in order to catch a criminal or to find information

Example:

•

The police decided to stake out the suspect's house.

•

They had to stake out the area for hours before anything happened.

Synonym:

surveil observe monitor watch spy on