wager

1 of 2

noun

wa·​ger ˈwā-jər How to pronounce wager (audio)
Synonyms of wagernext
1
a
: something (such as a sum of money) risked on an uncertain event : stake
b
: something on which bets are laid : gamble
do a stunt as a wager
2
archaic : an act of giving a pledge to take and abide by the result of some action

wager

2 of 2

verb

wagered; wagering
ˈwāj-riŋ, 
ˈwā-jə- How to pronounce wager (audio)

intransitive verb

: to make a bet

transitive verb

: to risk or venture on a final outcome
specifically : to lay as a gamble : bet
wager $5 on a horse
wagerer
ˈwā-jər-ər How to pronounce wager (audio)
noun

Synonyms of wager

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Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of wager in a Sentence

Noun He has a wager on the game. I don't think the horse will win. What's your wager? Verb She wagered $50 on the game. I wouldn't wager against them.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Kalshi tested the waters by offering its first wagers on the Super Bowl in early 2025 and the CFTC did not step in to stop them. —Peyton Forte, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026 See the latest odds and wagers here. —Anna Tingley, Variety, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
And the rest of the jewelry box of a city isn't ready to call it quits, wagering that some things are still worth taking their time, and come out stronger under pressure. —Chris Livesay, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026 The amount wagered on the Super Bowl has grown for eight years straight. —Peyton Forte, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wager

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English wageour pledge, bet, from Anglo-French wageure, from *wager

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of wager was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing wager

Rhymes for wager

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Browse Nearby Words

wage level
wager
wage rate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wager.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wager. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wager

1 of 2 noun
wa·​ger ˈwā-jər How to pronounce wager (audio)
1
: something (as a sum of money) risked on an uncertain event : bet
2
: something (as the outcome of a game or race) on which a bet is made
: gamble

wager

2 of 2 verb
wagered; wagering ˈwāj-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce wager (audio)
: to bet on the outcome of a contest or question
wagerer
ˈwā-jər-ər How to pronounce wager (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wager

Nglish: Translation of wager for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wager

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