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a
: something that is laid, staked, or pledged typically between two parties on the outcome of a contest or a contingent issue : wager
—often used figuratively in such phrases as all bets are off to stress the uncertainty of an outcome
b
: the act of giving such a pledge
2
: something to wager on
3
: a choice made by consideration of probabilities
your best bet is the back road
bet also betted; betting
1
a
: to stake on the outcome of an issue or the performance of a contestant
b
: to be able to be sure that
—usually used in the expression you bet
you bet I'll be there
2
a
: to maintain with or as if with a bet
b
: to make a bet with
c
: to make a bet on
: to lay a bet
between
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
He has a bet on the game.
He made a bet with his brother that he could finish his chores first.
He and his brother have a bet about who can finish his chores first.
He lost the bet and had to pay his brother five dollars.
His brother won the bet.
He paid his brother five dollars to settle the bet.
Verb
He bet $5 on the game.
I'll bet that he makes the next shot.
He always bets that the favorite will win.
He lost a lot of money by betting on college football and basketball.
I bet against the favorite and I lost.
I wouldn't bet against her. She's very likely to win this race.
Carmakers are betting that people will want to buy larger, more expensive cars this year.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Middlehurst-schwartz, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2023
Xerox buys into computing This wasn’t Xerox’s only big bet on computing.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Mar. 2023
That decision is a bet on the power of the federal government to transform private industry.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2023
Now this windy plain is a high-stakes table for a nine-figure bet on the future of California cannabis — that soon, within the next few years, adults across the country will be able to buy it as easily as hard seltzer or craft beer.
—Scott Wilson, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2023
Now this windy plain is a high-stakes table for a nine-figure bet on the future of California cannabis - that soon, within the next few years, adults across the country will be able to buy it as easily as hard seltzer or craft beer.
—Scott Wilson, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Feb. 2023
Fahmi Quadir’s short bet cleared tens of millions of dollars.
—Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2023
Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group, is sticking with his bet that the US economy will skirt an economic downturn.
—Fortune, 26 Feb. 2023
Good bet a lot of them will be back as a bond, something that isn’t the same with off-campus games, begins to build.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2023
Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2023
Meanwhile, Lee has bet big on a new Burberry for a diverse Britain.
—Harper's BAZAAR, 20 Feb. 2023
Stock prices slumped on the C.P.I. report, and more investors bet on the likelihood that the Fed would raise interest rates above 5 percent.
—Marie Solis, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2023
The best non-Alvarez MVP bet is actually his fellow corner outfielder, one who could sign an contract extension with Houston before Opening Day.
—Michael Shapiro, Chron, 16 Feb. 2023
Lampert bet $4,599, which brought his total to $9,199.
—oregonlive, 7 Feb. 2023
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to bet on this Eagles-Chiefs matchup.
—cleveland, 5 Feb. 2023
This gives you a way to bet on the site without having to risk your own money to do so, and gives you a chance to win withdrawable cash from the $150 in bonus bets.
—al, 21 Jan. 2023
Investors may also short-sell investments, or bet that a particular security will decline, to shore up their profits.
—Q.ai - Powering A Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023
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Noun
Jacksonville Jaguars – Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State Evan Engram looks like a good bet to return to Jacksonville, with GM Trent Baalke saying in January there was mutual interest in a reunion between the pass catcher and franchise.
—Michael Middlehurst-schwartz, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2023
Xerox buys into computing This wasn’t Xerox’s only big bet on computing.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Mar. 2023
That decision is a bet on the power of the federal government to transform private industry.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2023
Now this windy plain is a high-stakes table for a nine-figure bet on the future of California cannabis — that soon, within the next few years, adults across the country will be able to buy it as easily as hard seltzer or craft beer.
—Scott Wilson, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2023
Now this windy plain is a high-stakes table for a nine-figure bet on the future of California cannabis - that soon, within the next few years, adults across the country will be able to buy it as easily as hard seltzer or craft beer.
—Scott Wilson, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Feb. 2023
Fahmi Quadir’s short bet cleared tens of millions of dollars.
—Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2023
Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group, is sticking with his bet that the US economy will skirt an economic downturn.
—Fortune, 26 Feb. 2023
Good bet a lot of them will be back as a bond, something that isn’t the same with off-campus games, begins to build.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2023
Verb
Other streaming services have already bet on live events.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2023
Meanwhile, Lee has bet big on a new Burberry for a diverse Britain.
—Harper's BAZAAR, 20 Feb. 2023
Stock prices slumped on the C.P.I. report, and more investors bet on the likelihood that the Fed would raise interest rates above 5 percent.
—Marie Solis, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2023
The best non-Alvarez MVP bet is actually his fellow corner outfielder, one who could sign an contract extension with Houston before Opening Day.
—Michael Shapiro, Chron, 16 Feb. 2023
Lampert bet $4,599, which brought his total to $9,199.
—oregonlive, 7 Feb. 2023
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to bet on this Eagles-Chiefs matchup.
—cleveland, 5 Feb. 2023
This gives you a way to bet on the site without having to risk your own money to do so, and gives you a chance to win withdrawable cash from the $150 in bonus bets.
—al, 21 Jan. 2023
Investors may also short-sell investments, or bet that a particular security will decline, to shore up their profits.
—Q.ai - Powering A Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun
1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
circa 1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing bet
Dictionary Entries Near bet
Cite this Entry
“Bet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bet. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
bet
1 of 2 noun1
: an agreement requiring the person whose guess about the result of a contest or the outcome of an event proves wrong to give something to a person whose guess proves right
2
: the money or thing risked
3
: a choice made by considering what might happen
our best bet is to take the back road
bet
2 of 2 verb
bet also betted; betting
1
: to risk in a bet
I'll bet a nickel
2
: to make a bet with
I bet you he won't
3
: to be certain enough to bet
I bet it will rain
More from Merriam-Webster on bet
Nglish: Translation of bet for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of bet for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bet
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