bets 1 of 2

Definition of betsnext
plural of bet
1
as in stakes
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

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2

bets

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bet
as in wagers
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 bets
Noun
Prediction markets are taking bets this Valentine's Day that celebrity relationships can thrive — or break apart. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026 Israeli authorities have arrested several people and charged two on suspicion of using classified information to place bets about military operations on the popular prediction market platform Polymarket. Bobby Allyn, NPR, 12 Feb. 2026 Traders increased their bets that the strong headline payrolls number and decline in the unemployment rate would keep the Federal Reserve on the sidelines until the summer. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026 According to the Washington Post, there's currently about $200 million in political bets riding on the two dominant prediction platforms, Kalshi and Polymarket. Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026 The bets slid further into the summer, after a new Fed chair is set to take the helm. Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026 While Berkshire Hathaway remains heavily invested in America, one of Buffett’s last big bets shows the upside of going a little global. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026 Of course, tech CEOs until now have been able to make these millennial bets without sacrificing short-term riches. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 10 Feb. 2026 There has been a 15% drop in the number of bets placed since Illinois instituted the tax of 25 to 50 cents per bet in the fall, state records show — but an increase in the amount of money bet, as players make fewer but bigger wagers. Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
The prediction market’s CEO, Tarek Mansour, told CNBC that bets on Bad Bunny’s first song alone exceeded $100 million in volume. Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026 If a new account opens and immediately bets on a single player micro-market, that’s suspicious. Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025 Similarly, if an existing account that typically bets $50 on certain games suddenly places a $1,000 bet, that outlier behavior could trigger an investigation. Dian Zhang, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025 Told no at every turn, Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bets
Noun
  • If Vitello is down this bad in the low-stakes breeziness of a cloudy February in Scottsdale, what happens when the real pressure cooker of a big-league season heats up?
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
  • These findings suggest that men are more likely to pull up stakes and abandon Florida — which, in recent years, has become one of the country’s most expensive regions — while women are digging in their heels.
    Genesis Lisboa, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • And that forces Yoshida’s character to confront her own choices and those of her grandmother, as each generation of women navigates the complexities of love, sacrifice and family expectations.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Caldwell, Kuna and Eagle voters may soon have different choices in their city elections.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Prosecutors say a civilian and a military reservist have been indicted for bribery and obstruction of justice, with an undisclosed number of others also arrested for placing Polymarket wagers based on classified information, according to a statement released Thursday by officials in Tel Aviv.
    Bobby Allyn, NPR, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Kalshi tested the waters by offering its first wagers on the Super Bowl in early 2025 and the CFTC did not step in to stop them.
    Peyton Forte, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The collection includes classic Italian dishes like spaghetti carbonara and cacio e pepe, TikTok’s own feta pasta, vegetarian favorites like savory pasta with beans, and plenty of weeknight one-pot dinners.
    Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Spanx’s Presidents’ Day sale has markdowns on more than 700 items, with our favorites starting at $29 for the best-selling Everyday Leggings.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Cathy goes to wipe her fingers on her skirt, but Heathcliff instead grabs her hand and puts her fingers in his mouth.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
  • This approach puts him in good stead ahead of next year’s election.
    Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Williams turns his ear for propulsive and bombastic melodies onto traditional Japanese instrumentation, creating a work that sways between gentle, meditative themes for the titular geisha (Ziyi) and heart-pounding selections to fill out her chaotic, tragic life.
    Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
  • When the voter finishes, the selections are printed on the ballot.
    Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bets. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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