bet
1 of 3noun
ˈbet 
1
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
2 of 3verb
bet also betted; betting
transitive verb
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
intransitive verb
: to lay a bet
bet
3 of 3abbreviation
between
Synonyms
Noun
- stake
- wager
Verb
- gamble
- go
- lay
- play
- put
- stake
- wager
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Jason Zweig, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Few things are a safe bet when the Arizona Legislature reconvenes in January, including who will be sitting in the seats. Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Make a bet of $5 or more on the Broncos vs. Seahawks. Catena Media, al, 12 Sep. 2022 With so much upheaval and uncertainty lately surrounding the team, the No. 12 seems a safe bet. Shane Lantz, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 Proponents say the spending is a safe bet for the county because the revenue from the All-Star Game at Vivint Arena and related events the weekend of Feb. 18 and 19 will far outweigh the investment. Blake Apgar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Sep. 2022 Make a first bet of between $10 and $1,250 on NFL Week 1 action. Catena Media, oregonlive, 8 Sep. 2022 Given the apparent overall unpopularity of the mini in the first place, a 6.1-inch version of the iPhone SE is probably a safer bet than a 5.4-inch version, but small-screened phone lovers can still keep hope alive. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 7 Sep. 2022 If your house has multiple stories, the ground floor will be a better bet than the upper floors. Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Milan Kordestani, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2022 In the end, the Swedish driver's decision to bet on himself paid off. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Sep. 2022 Federal-funds futures, used by traders to bet on interest-rate moves, showed a 76% chance that the central bank will lift rates by 0.75 percentage point. Hannah Miao, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Open a new account at Caesars Sportsbook with the promo code MYBETFULL to access up to $1,250 in bonuses to bet on the game. Catena Media, oregonlive, 12 Sep. 2022 This challenge is especially evident for entrepreneurs in underserved communities who don’t have credit or other assets to bet on when approaching lenders. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2022 Jackson elected to bet on himself and not agree to a long-term deal ahead of the season. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 11 Sep. 2022 The Department of Fish and Wildlife is willing to bet at least $3 million over the next two years, with the creation of five new jobs meant to oversee a restoration program specifically for the North American beaver. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Some traders are also still willing to bet on significantly higher prices. Alex Longley, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2022 See More
Noun
Turning your back on international stocks today, however, is a bet that their lousy performance is pretty much permanent. Jason Zweig, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Few things are a safe bet when the Arizona Legislature reconvenes in January, including who will be sitting in the seats. Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Make a bet of $5 or more on the Broncos vs. Seahawks. Catena Media, al, 12 Sep. 2022 With so much upheaval and uncertainty lately surrounding the team, the No. 12 seems a safe bet. Shane Lantz, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 Proponents say the spending is a safe bet for the county because the revenue from the All-Star Game at Vivint Arena and related events the weekend of Feb. 18 and 19 will far outweigh the investment. Blake Apgar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Sep. 2022 Make a first bet of between $10 and $1,250 on NFL Week 1 action. Catena Media, oregonlive, 8 Sep. 2022 Given the apparent overall unpopularity of the mini in the first place, a 6.1-inch version of the iPhone SE is probably a safer bet than a 5.4-inch version, but small-screened phone lovers can still keep hope alive. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 7 Sep. 2022 If your house has multiple stories, the ground floor will be a better bet than the upper floors. Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Verb
Rather than functioning as a partner investing in long-term careers, or benevolent patron of the arts, major labels prefer to bet on later-stage artists who are on the verge of a hit that the label can sink its teeth into owning. Milan Kordestani, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2022 In the end, the Swedish driver's decision to bet on himself paid off. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Sep. 2022 Federal-funds futures, used by traders to bet on interest-rate moves, showed a 76% chance that the central bank will lift rates by 0.75 percentage point. Hannah Miao, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Open a new account at Caesars Sportsbook with the promo code MYBETFULL to access up to $1,250 in bonuses to bet on the game. Catena Media, oregonlive, 12 Sep. 2022 This challenge is especially evident for entrepreneurs in underserved communities who don’t have credit or other assets to bet on when approaching lenders. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2022 Jackson elected to bet on himself and not agree to a long-term deal ahead of the season. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 11 Sep. 2022 The Department of Fish and Wildlife is willing to bet at least $3 million over the next two years, with the creation of five new jobs meant to oversee a restoration program specifically for the North American beaver. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Some traders are also still willing to bet on significantly higher prices. Alex Longley, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
bet 1 of 3
noun
ˈbet
1
: an agreement requiring the person who guesses wrong about the result of a contest or the outcome of an event to give something to the person who guesses right
2
: the money or thing risked in a bet
3
: a choice made by considering what might happen
It's a safe bet that they will win.
bet
2 of 3verb
bet or betted; betting
1
: to risk in a bet
bet a dollar
2
: to make a bet with
I bet you he'll win.
3
: to be sure enough to make a bet
I bet she knows the answer.
bet.
3 of 3abbreviation
between
bet 1 of 2
noun
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
Relevance
- stake
- wager
- pool
- kitty
- collateral
- handle
- pot
- jackpot
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
- choice
- favorite
- chosen
- pick
- like
- candidate
- option
- selection
- nominee
- liking
- preference
- nomination
- appointee
- designation
- elective
- appointment
- preselection
- selectee
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rejectee
bet
2 of 2verb
as in to wager
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event foolishly bet a week's salary on the World Series Synonyms & Similar Words
- wager
- put
- gamble
- stake
- play
- offer
- lay
- go
- bid
- chance
- speculate
- venture
- hazard
- adventure
- jeopardize
- endanger
- imperil
- signed off on
- signed on
- signed on (for)
- signed on for
- signed out
- signed over
- signed up
- signed up (for)
- signed up for
- signed up or on
- signee
- signees
- signer
- signers
- signest
- signet
- signet ring
- on the edge of one's seat
- on the face of it
- on the face of the earth
- on the factory floor
- on the far side of
- on the fence
- on the firing line
- on the fly