bet 1 of 2

noun

ˈbet How to pronounce bet (audio)
Definition of betnext
1
as in stake
the money or thing risked on the outcome of an uncertain event she offered the bet of a free lunch if her team won the World Series

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in choice
a person or thing that is chosen your best bet would be the scenic route along the coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

bet

2 of 2

verb

as in to put
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event foolishly bet a week's salary on the World Series

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bet
Noun
For the next few weeks, your best bet may be reverse psychology. — Usa Today, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 Two losing bets would have evaporated the remainder of the season’s profits and brought the home run bets into the red. — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
Trump is betting on economic pressure As negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz drag on, the White House appears to believe that time – and Iran’s deteriorating economy – is on its side. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 Elon Musk is betting that the next phase of his sprawling technology empire will require a building on a scale that has never existed before. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bet
  1. stake
  2. choice
  3. put
  4. wager
  5. favorite
Noun
  • My first exposure to mahjong was watching the high-stakes game scene between Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh) in Crazy Rich Asians.
    — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • In every other high-stakes industry, independent institutions exist precisely so that public safety doesn’t depend on voluntary transparency.
    — Andrew Freedman, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of stake
Noun
  • During the Asian Cup earlier this year in Australia, many Iranian women’s players were faced with the tough choice to either defect or return to a warzone.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The company mainly recommends this choice to enterprises, not consumers.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of choice
Verb
  • Willy Adames and Rafael Devers singled to start the fourth against Melton, putting runners at the corners.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • As one University of Helsinki scholar of Chinese political economy put it, stablecoins can circulate beyond regulatory oversight, interfere with capital account management and complicate the central bank's control over settlement.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of put
Noun
  • Burry has doubts But Burry, the investor best known for his wager against the housing market before the financial crisis, sees reason for concern in Berkshire’s new era.
    — Yun Li, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • State law now bans proposition betting in sports — wagers on certain events happening in a game, rather than the game’s outcome — which is a significant source of revenue for the leading prediction markets.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of wager
Noun
  • Shields, undefeated at 18-0, is the heavy favorite despite being the challenger against Scott (5-1-1), who secured her belts last December.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The leader of anti-immigration party Reform UK is running in an election as the incumbent favorite, and his main opponent is a man dressed as a garbage can.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of favorite

Browse Nearby Words

bests
bet
bête noire
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Cite this Entry

“Bet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bet. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bet

Nglish: Translation of bet for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bet

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