Definition of wagernext
as in stake
the money or thing risked on the outcome of an uncertain event lost her wager when the horse dropped out of the race

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wager

2 of 2

verb

as in to bet
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event wagered 20 dollars that his favorite team would win

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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 wager
Noun
No additional details about the jackpot or the winning wager were immediately released. Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Kalshi risks more Illinois fights Illinois seems certain that there are many questions that courts must answer before prediction markets like Kalshi can keep taking sports wagers. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026
Verb
Bonta proposed statewide restrictions on games using third-party proposition players, also known as player-dealers, as well as blackjack and other banked games, in which players wager against the house. Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 Amazon is wagering that a half-price membership can manufacture loyalty among a cohort that has more financial anxiety than any before it, and less brand allegiance to show for it. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wager
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wager
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
Verb
  • Trump’s pressure campaign could not come at worse time for Cubans after their government seemed to have bet the island’s future on tourism and spent much of the last decade building new hotels –– which now sit vacant.
    Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 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
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

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Cite this Entry

“Wager.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wager. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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