wager

1 of 2

noun

wa·​ger ˈwā-jər How to pronounce wager (audio)
1
a
: something (such as a sum of money) risked on an uncertain event : stake
b
: something on which bets are laid : gamble
do a stunt as a wager
2
archaic : an act of giving a pledge to take and abide by the result of some action

wager

2 of 2

verb

wagered; wagering
ˈwāj-riŋ,
ˈwā-jə- How to pronounce wager (audio)

intransitive verb

: to make a bet

transitive verb

: to risk or venture on a final outcome
specifically : to lay as a gamble : bet
wager $5 on a horse
wagerer noun

Examples of wager in a Sentence

Noun He has a wager on the game. I don't think the horse will win. What's your wager? Verb She wagered $50 on the game. I wouldn't wager against them.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Traders can place wagers on whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will win the presidential election, on which party will control the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and on individual Senate races in key battleground states like Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania. John Hyatt, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 While the capsule showcases a full spectrum of timeless-yet-trending colors for 2025, Wadden wagers that the muted botanical of Mauve Finery might have been the go-to choice if Sherwin-Williams were to stick with just one color. Tim Nelson, Architectural Digest, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
In the case of the 2024 World Series, a bettor would need to wager $450 on the Dodgers to win the World Series in order to earn a $100 profit. Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 Harris aides have wagered their campaign can squeeze even more juice from these areas this time, especially with women voters. David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wager 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wager.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English wageour pledge, bet, from Anglo-French wageure, from *wager

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of wager was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near wager

Cite this Entry

“Wager.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wager. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

wager

1 of 2 noun
wa·​ger ˈwā-jər How to pronounce wager (audio)
1
: something (as a sum of money) risked on an uncertain event : bet
2
: something (as the outcome of a game or race) on which a bet is made
: gamble

wager

2 of 2 verb
wagered; wagering ˈwāj-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce wager (audio)
: to bet on the outcome of a contest or question
wagerer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wager

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