jackpot

noun

jack·pot | \ ˈjak-ˌpät

Definition of jackpot

1a : the top prize in a game or contest (such as a lottery) that is typically a large fund of money formed by the accumulation of unwon prizes

b(1) : a hand or game of draw poker in which a pair of jacks or better is required to open

(2) : a large pot (as in poker) formed by the accumulation of stakes from previous play

c(1) : a combination on a slot machine that wins a top prize or all the coins available for paying out

(2) : the sum so won

2 : an impressive often unexpected success or reward

3 chiefly Western US : a tight spot : jam

Synonyms Example Sentences Phrases Containing jackpot Learn More About jackpot

Examples of jackpot in a Sentence

The lottery jackpot is up to one million dollars. a wily dude who managed to get himself out of one jackpot after another

Recent Examples on the Web The Classic Lotto jackpot is $27 million for Saturday’s drawing. — Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 5 May 2022 Entrepreneurs and business owners seek business funding and finding those who are willing to take a risk and fund their ventures is like hitting the financial jackpot. — Melissa Houston, Forbes, 4 May 2022 Drake went from the Wynn with a million in chocolate chips to giving his friend LeBron James a million in Bitcoin after hitting the jackpot. — Heran Mamo, Billboard, 23 Mar. 2022 At first her earnings were averaging about $500 a week, but that seemed like hitting the jackpot as a high school student. — Jolene Latimer, refinery29.com, 2 Feb. 2022 But your chance of coming across the former is much higher than actually hitting the million-dollar jackpot. — Eva Thomas, PEOPLE.com, 19 Jan. 2022 Some lottery winners have found that hitting the jackpot can lead to misery. — Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2021 Which means the more upsetting revelation is how many are willing to continue playing and risk the lives of themselves and others, all for a vanishingly small chance at hitting the jackpot. — Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2021 Wondering what the largest winning Powerball jackpot ever is? — Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jackpot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.