parlay
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bet or gamble (an original amount and its winnings) on a subsequent race, contest, etc.
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Informal. to use (one's money, talent, or other assets) to achieve a desired objective, as spectacular wealth or success.
He parlayed a modest inheritance into a fortune.
noun
verb
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Brit equivalent: double up. to stake (winnings from one bet) on a subsequent wager
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to exploit (one's talent) to achieve worldly success
noun
Usage
What does parlay mean? In gambling, to parlay a bet means to “let it ride”—to wager the original amount and any winnings on a subsequent bet. Parlay can also be used as a noun to refer to such a bet. Sometimes it means something more specific, especially in the context of sports betting: a single wager that depends on the outcome of multiple events, most commonly sports games. Parlay can also be used in a general way meaning to use a resource, such as money or talent, to achieve an outcome, such as wealth or success. Example: I always end up trying to parlay my winnings and then losing everything.
Etymology
Origin of parlay
An Americanism first recorded in 1820–30; alteration of earlier paroli, from French, from Neapolitan Italian, plural of parolo, perhaps derivative of paro “equal,” from Latin pār; pair 1
Explanation
If you parlay a bet, then you take the winnings from one bet and bet it again on something else. You might have seen a gambler on TV parlay her winnings into a huge fortune. The verb parlay is often used to talk about gambling, but it can be used more broadly to describe any initial stake that you turn into something much larger. You might parlay your early investment in your brother’s company into a high-paying leadership role. Parlay also has a noun form that describes these kinds of transactions. You might notice your Uncle Bob once again betting a baseball parlay.
Vocabulary lists containing parlay
"Total Loss Weekend" by Don Delillo
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Seabiscuit
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The Best of Enemies
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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.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for his part has managed to parlay diplomatic criticism into something palatable for both sides: military cooperation.
From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026
No-nonsense Maomao, a Tang Dynasty-era girl raised in a brothel who escapes servitude to parlay her apothecary skills in service of the palace, is one of the best female protagonists of all time.
From Salon • Dec. 19, 2025
This fall, Kalshi unveiled a “combo” product that allows customers to create multiple-legged bets on the same game — essentially a parlay.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 24, 2025
A parlay is a single bet that combines two or more wagers, such as betting on the outcomes of two separate games.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025
“That counts for something. You just have to parlay it into something more.”
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
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.
