wager

1 of 2

noun

wa·​ger ˈwā-jər How to pronounce wager (audio)
Synonyms of wagernext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Additionally, taking wagers on something that’s not decided on the field of play — like who is going to attend the Super Bowl — based purely on information doesn’t make sense to me. A.j. Perez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026 Somewhere, gamblers monitored their wagers on KSU as 4½-point underdogs, fueling an industry that rode partially on the backs of the young men chasing their dreams on the court. Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Most prediction markets offer similar-looking products to sportsbooks, but under federal oversight rather than state regulation, and there have been concerns about the integrity monitoring associated with wagering via these new platforms. Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026 The same bettor had also wagered more than $1,000 on 12 to 14 inches of snowfall. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wager

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wager.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wager. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

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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