wager

1 of 3

noun (1)

wa·​ger ˈwā-jər 

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 3

verb

wagered; wagering

ˈwāj-riŋ, 

ˈwā-jə- 

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

ˈwā-jər-ər 

noun

wagerer

3 of 3

noun (2)

wa·​ger·​er ˈwājərə(r) 

plural -s

: one that wagers : bettor

Synonyms of wager

Noun (1)

• stake
• bet

Verb

• bet
• put

Examples of wager in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Hanaway’s office also argued that companies offering sports contracts must pay the taxes and fees required under Missouri law and prevent anyone under 21 from placing a wager. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026

New users can use code FOXNEWSDYW to receive double your winnings on up to 10 wagers. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Verb

Correspondent Jim Axelrod talks to a gambler who wagers his annual income; and examines how the online betting platforms FanDuel and DraftKings – now the subjects of lawsuits regarding their design – interact with their customers. — David Morgan, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Location and age rules apply across every operator, and eligibility narrows depending on the state a bettor calls home, per the Illinois Gaming Board’s sports wagering guidance. — Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing wager

• place/make a wager

Rhymes for wager

• ager
• gauger
• pager
• stager
• yager
• teenager

Kids Definition

wager

1 of 2 noun

wa·​ger ˈwā-jər 

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 

: to bet on the outcome of a contest or question

wagerer

ˈwā-jər-ər 

noun