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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The fantasy of perfectly solitary convenience—DoorDashing a meal for one and binging Netflix alone on the couch—has been a reliable bet in Silicon Valley. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Looked at together — a censer of incense in Liuxia, a slab of gold brick in Deji — the two businesses are making a similar bet. — Li Jun, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
Among investors, even some of the world’s most successful contrarians—who make their fortunes betting against conventional wisdom—are embracing the idea that AI could yield bigger benefits more rapidly than any past technological advance. — Ruchir Sharma, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026 Apple is betting that its focus on privacy and the fact that consumers already run their digital lives on its iPhones, iPads and Macs will give it an edge. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bet
  1. stake
  2. choice
  3. put
  4. wager
  5. favorite
Noun
  • Hines cofounded Nxum in 2022 with his father, Todd Hines, and marketing executive Gary Dennis, with each partner holding equal ownership stakes.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
  • After all, the state just went through a high-stakes game of chicken with David Ellison, who threatened to move Paramount to locales like Tennessee or Texas if California kept pursuing him in court over his successful bid to acquire Warner Bros.
    — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of stake
Noun
  • As private longing collides with honor and social codes, each character has to reckon with what their choices cost.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The choices are housed in the Atelier Vivier MTO cabinet, a silver console containing the available materials and hardware, while a digital component allows clients to visualize combinations before production begins.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of choice
Verb
  • The blaze sparked evacuation orders for the Encinal Canyon area near Trancas Canyon and put a larger swath of Malibu under an evacuation warning.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The Rays need a win here to tie up the series, and the Guardians want a win to put Tampa Bay’s back against the wall.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of put
Noun
  • Bet365 is offering new users a chance to get $200 in bonuses off a $10 wager.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Prominent platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket let users as young as 18 trade contracts on virtually anything, though most activity centers on sports wagers.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of wager
Noun
  • The colorful beaded versions at Carolina Herrera were a favorite of mine.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Bergs converted his first match point with a ninth ace to beat the tournament favorite in the biggest win of his career.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of favorite

Browse Nearby Words

bests
bet
bête noire
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bet. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bet

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