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
Santos, who did not return NPR's requests for comment, made violent threats against this reporter after NPR first reported on his State of the Union bets. — Bobby Allyn, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 Investigators say Santos was barred from trading on his own attendance but still placed large bets and issued misleading social media posts aimed at moving prices, turning a $17,839 profit. — Larry Neumeister, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
Investors are betting on the operational infrastructure that makes energy, water and risk data visible, not on sustainability branding itself. — Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Golfweek revealed that a PGA Champions Tour player had been suspended for betting on golf. — Greg Borowski, jsonline.com, 29 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
  • Whether in the form of comedy or drama, these stories come with their stakes already built in.
    — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Many important details remain unclear, including the identity of the private operator, who will cover necessary investments and how America’s stake in the company breaks down.
    — Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of stake
Noun
  • Nick Pope is also still on Tyneside, even though he has been relegated to third-choice goalkeeper and was made available.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • That choice could help Antares avoid developing every component specifically for nuclear use.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of choice
Verb
  • Costco is an awkward exhibit for putting shareholder-value maximization in the driver’s seat.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Espada is paid to put it in favorable positions, even when few seem to exist.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of put
Noun
  • Kalshi is an online betting market that facilitates wagers on thousands of different events and potential events in politics, sports, and the economy, among other things.
    — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Cao’s deeper subject here concerns the wagers people make on their futures and, by extension, the ways risk is deferred and abstracted in our gamified, appified, casino-like present.
    — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of wager
Noun
  • The customer favorite is forged from iron, polypropylene, and wood, and provides a haven from wind, rain, and sun.
    — Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The sound of the new album is lush and emotional, which Louris sees as an echo of the pop melodies of an earlier record, 1997’s Sound of Lies, a longtime fan favorite.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 31 Aug. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bet

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