bet

¹

[beyt, bet]

noun

1. beth.

bet.

²

abbreviation

1. between.

bet

³

[bet]

verb (used with object)

bet, betted, betting. 

1. to wager with (something or someone).

   Synonyms: chance, venture, hazard, risk, stake, gamble

verb (used without object)

bet, betted, betting. 

1. to make a wager.

   Do you want to bet?

noun

1. a pledge of a forfeit risked on some uncertain outcome; wager.

   Where do we place our bets?

2. that which is pledged.

   a two-dollar bet.

3. something that is bet on, as a competitor in a sporting event or a number in a lottery.

   That horse looks like a good bet.

4. an act or instance of betting.

   It's a bet, then?

5. a person, plan of action, etc., considered as being a good alternative; choice.

   Your best bet is to sell your stocks now.

BET

⁴

abbreviation

Trademark.

1. Black Entertainment Television: a cable television channel.

bet

/ bɛt /

noun

1. an agreement between two parties that a sum of money or other stake will be paid by the loser to the party who correctly predicts the outcome of an event

2. the money or stake risked

3. the predicted result in such an agreement

   his bet was that the horse would win

4. a person, event, etc, considered as likely to succeed or occur

   it's a good bet that they will succeed

5. a course of action (esp in the phrase one's best bet )

6. informal,  an opinion; view

   my bet is that you've been up to no good

verb

1. to make or place a bet with (a person or persons)

2. (tr) to stake (money, etc) in a bet

3. informal,  (tr; may take a clause as object) to predict (a certain outcome)

   I bet she fails

4. informal,  of course; naturally

Word History and Origins

Origin of bet¹

First recorded in 1585–95; perhaps special use of obsolete bet “better,” in phrase the bet “the advantage,” i.e., “the odds”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bet¹

C16: probably short for _abet

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. all bets are off. all bets are off.

2. you bet! of course! surely!.

   You bet I'd like to be there!

More idioms and phrases containing bet

• back (bet on) the wrong horse
• hedge one's bets
• you bet your ass

Example Sentences

Traders are overwhelmingly betting that the central bank will cut interest rates at its December meeting following recent comments from Fed officials, and expectations of lower rates have helped calm nerves around stocks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bill James — the godfather of baseball analytics, who coined the phrase sabermetric in the late 1970s — did not revolutionize the way the sports industry looked at data so we could have more prop bets.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Christine Ji interviewed investors who made unusually concentrated bets on one stock.

Read more on MarketWatch

The message for investors is that companies that cater to the super rich, like Birkin handbag maker Hermès, jewelers Cartier or Van Cleef & Arpels, are the best bet in this lopsided economy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The show helped build Netflix’s reputation as a place that makes big bets on original ideas and, if it’s a hit, can build a large fandom for such programs with its worldwide subscriber base.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• betting www.thesaurus.com
• chance 
• long shot 
• odds 
• pledge 
• risk 
• speculation 
• stake 
• venture 
• wager