bet

[ bet ]

/ bɛt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR bet ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), bet or bet·ted, bet·ting.

to wager with (something or someone).

verb (used without object), bet or bet·ted, bet·ting.

to make a wager: Do you want to bet?

noun

a pledge of a forfeit risked on some uncertain outcome; wager: Where do we place our bets?

that which is pledged: a two-dollar bet.

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.

an act or instance of betting: It's a bet, then?

a person, plan of action, etc., considered as being a good alternative; choice: Your best bet is to sell your stocks now.

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Idioms for bet

you bet! Informal. of course! surely!: You bet I'd like to be there!

Origin of bet

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

SYNONYMS FOR bet

1 gamble, stake, risk, hazard, venture, chance.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR bet ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby bet

bestrew, bestride, bestrow, bestseller, bestud, bet, bet on the wrong horse, bet one's ass, bet., beta, beta blocker

Definition for bet (2 of 4)

bet²

[ beyt; bet ]

/ beɪt; bɛt /

noun

beth.

Definition for bet (3 of 4)

BET

Trademark.

Black Entertainment Television: a cable television channel.

Definition for bet (4 of 4)

bet.

between.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for bet

And when BET Weekend came to Atlanta two months ago, Brinsley thought he could become a major party promoter.
Alleged Cop Killer’s Blood-Soaked Screenplay|M.L. Nestel|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The kerfuffle began with a £200 bet, followed by several smaller bets in quick succession.
Could The Queen Abdicate on Christmas Day?|Tom Sykes|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This meant that Palestinian taxi drivers had to drive through the Israeli settlement of Bet El.
The Radicals Who Slaughtered a Synagogue|Creede Newton|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This was not a musical performance, per se, but you bet your ass this was a “performance”—albeit a well-intentioned and noble one.
Butts, ‘Bang Bang’ & Beyoncé: The Craziest MTV Video Music Awards Moments|Kevin Fallon|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

We have to bet on ourselves,” he says, “and become part of the solution.
Candidates in Maine, Nebraska, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., Challenge Republicans and Democrats Alike|Linda Killian|July 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"I bet I will," said the venturesome one; and he set off to try his luck.
Memoirs of an American Prima Donna|Clara Louise Kellogg
"Anyway, I'll bet she blows back w'ere she come from, to-night," persisted the advocate of this theory.
The Cruise of the Dry Dock|T. S. Stribling
Bet is such a darling, I could not bring myself to part with her.
Mollie's Prince|Rosa Nouchette Carey
Mr. Gurney was a patron of the Turf and a genuine lover of old English sports, but he was never known to bet.
Norfolk Annals|Charles Mackie
In that way they have got a lot of people to bet on Hatrack.
Ted Strong's Motor Car|Edward C. Taylor

British Dictionary definitions for bet

bet

/ (bɛt) /

noun

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

the money or stake risked

the predicted result in such an agreementhis bet was that the horse would win

a person, event, etc, considered as likely to succeed or occurit's a good bet that they will succeed

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

informal an opinion; viewmy bet is that you've been up to no good

verb bets, betting, bet or betted

(when intr foll by on or against) to make or place a bet with (a person or persons)

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

(tr; may take a clause as object) informal to predict (a certain outcome)I bet she fails

you bet informal of course; naturally

Word Origin for bet

C16: probably short for abet

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with bet

bet

In addition to the idioms beginning with bet

bet one's ass
bet on the wrong horse

also see:

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

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WORD OF THE DAY

bet

verb (used with object), bet or bet·ted, bet·ting.

verb (used without object), bet or bet·ted, bet·ting.

noun