noun
stakeout
noun
1
A period of covert surveillance of a place or person, usually by police.
"Detectives spent three cold nights on a stakeout outside the warehouse."
"The stakeout finally paid off when the suspect showed up at dawn."
How to Use Stakeout
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSecretly watching a location to catch someone in the act.
Common pairings
conduct a stakeout
police stakeout
on a stakeout
Word Forms
stakeouts plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “stakeout”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Detectives spent three cold nights on a _____ outside the warehouse.
Etymology
Formed in English from the phrasal verb "stake out," turning the action into a noun.