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

Relevance
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
Millennials might have made the remote work life Instagram-worthy, but the in-office option might be your best bet. — Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 But for many investors, the real bet is on CEO Elon Musk — and that his next act will be as lucrative as his last. — Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Verb
Microsoft is betting that tighter integration, such as linking models, workflows, and proprietary data, will unlock tangible productivity gains and justify continued spending. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 July 2026 Fertility companies are betting on artificial intelligence and other technologies to boost the chances of a successful IVF pregnancy. — Edna Bonhomme, Scientific American, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bet
  1. stake
  2. choice
  3. put
  4. wager
  5. favorite
Noun
  • OpenAI has reportedly floated an offer to give the federal government a 5 percent ownership stake in the company.
    — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • The Coast Guard emphasized the high-stakes rescue serves as a powerful reminder of why its crews train constantly and remain ready to respond at any hour of the day or night.
    — Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of stake
Noun
  • Miltos’ Greek Table at Andronis Luxury Suites is the Oia choice for travelers who want romance.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Vic makes some baffling choices here, buzzing in twice on the first word in the series without hearing the rest, and getting eliminated from multiple rounds five seconds in.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 30 June 2026
Definition of choice
Verb
  • In his fifth-inning at-bat, Stephenson was on the other side of two successful challenges by Rutschman that put him down 1-2 in the count instead of up 3-0.
    — C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • Go on, put the 131-cube (2,147 cc) monster engine into that one.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
Definition of put
Noun
  • In the four-page ruling, Aquilina wrote that Kalshi violated the state's gaming industry by allowing people aged 18 to place wagers, as opposed to Michigan's age requirement of 21 and older.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • The wager underneath every check is that the next foundation model will simulate reality rather than describe it.
    — Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of wager
Noun
  • Now England, one of the World Cup title favorites, will face Norway, one of the tournament’s surprise teams that upset Brazil, in a tournament quarterfinal to be played on July 11 in Miami.
    — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Walk the rows, clip your favorites and take home a custom bouquet.
    — Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 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 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bet

Nglish: Translation of bet for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All