staked out
Monitored from hiding
Staked out is the past tense of stake out, meaning to mark boundaries with stakes or to keep a place under surveillance.
Police stake out a suspect's house, waiting and watching.
The figurative sense extends to claiming territory: She had already staked out a spot on the beach.
He staked out his position on the issue early.
- demarcatedSet distinct boundaries
- marked offBounded by lines
- markedBearing an indicator
- claimedStated as fact
- lay claimAssert ownership or right
observe · cordoning · secured · surveillance · unmarked car · territory · no man's land · turf war · boundary · plainclothes · private eye · perimeter · shadowing · hideout · reconnaissance · scouting · tracking · designated