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Synonyms

sweepstakes

American  
[sweep-steyks] / ˈswipˌsteɪks /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

  1. a race or other contest for which the prize consists of the stakes contributed by the various competitors.

  2. the prize itself.

  3. a lottery in which winning tickets are selected at random, each winning-ticket number then being matched to one of the horses nominated for or entered in a specific race, and the amounts paid the winners being determined by the finishing order of the horses that run.

  4. lottery.

  5. any gambling transaction in which each of a number of persons contributes a stake, and the stakes are awarded to one or several winners.

  6. a risky venture that promises large rewards.

    the high-tech sweepstakes.

Etymology

Origin of sweepstakes

1485–95; earlier swepestake originally, a person who won all the stakes in a game; sweep 1, stake 2, -s 3

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Discovery sweepstakes Thursday, conceding the prize to Paramount Skydance.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

Goodyear offers passenger rides through charity auctions, sweepstakes, corporate partnerships and other invitations, but the opportunities are rare, with only 0.0006% of Americans able to claim they have flown in the famed blimp.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2025

It has also influenced the way they’ve viewed the outfield market, cooling summer-long expectations that they would be leading contenders in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2025

Spencer, who was sixth in last year’s sweepstakes race, led the Mustangs to their fourth straight team championship.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2025

Also used them to determine which candy bars held the winning pieces for a £5,000 sweepstakes.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.