Creative efforts are raising the stakes, first of all (4)
I believe the answer is:
arts
'creative efforts' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'are raising the stakes first of all' is the wordplay.
'first of all' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'are raising the stakes' is 'ARTS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for arts that I've seen before include "Master of --" , "Eg, painting, sculpture" , "___ and crafts" , "Aesthetic products for star" , "Tricks" .)