wager

1 of 3

noun (1)

wa·​ger ˈwā-jər How to pronounce wager (audio)
Synonyms of wager
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 3

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

wagerer

3 of 3

noun (2)

wa·​ger·​er ˈwājərə(r) How to pronounce wagerer (audio)
plural -s
: one that wagers : bettor

Synonyms of wager

Relevance

Noun (1)

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of wager in a Sentence

Noun (1) 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Officials said the guest had been playing for only a few minutes before turning a $5 wager into the eight-figure jackpot. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 June 2026 The proposal seeks to ban wagers deemed not in the public interest or prone to manipulation through insider information. — Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
Instead of sports, though, women are wagering on their knowledge of pop culture. — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 1 July 2026 His customers, like most sports bettors, were generally bad at gambling, prone to wagering on the wrong team, with the wrong point spread. — Keith O’Brien, New Yorker, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wager

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

See All Rhymes for wager

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 7 Jul. 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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