bets 1 of 2

Definition of betsnext
plural of bet
1
as in stakes
the money or thing risked on the outcome of an uncertain event she offered the bet of a free lunch if her team won the World Series

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2

bets

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bet
as in wagers
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event foolishly bet a week's salary on the World Series

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bets
Noun
Over the years, more and more students have hedged their bets on a graduate degree to boost their salaries. Jake Angelo, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026 Many people who watch the NCAA tournament have placed bets for years on what was supposed to be amateur athletics. Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026 So yeah, bigger bets on hydrogen fuel cells weren't on my 2026 bingo card. New Atlas, 4 Apr. 2026 The case focuses specifically on Maryland’s ability to block Kalshi from offering sports-event contracts in the state -– such as whether the Orioles will win the American League East division —that Maryland says amount to rogue sports bets not permitted by its law. Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2026 Brian Suhovsky, who teaches math and personal finance at New York’s AECI 1 Charter School in the Bronx, said listening to students talk mostly about their bets inspired him to teach about the risks. Stephanie Dhue,sharon Epperson, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2026 In his telling, he was tricked into working as a cleaner for Hanson, who bankrolled his gambling through a staking agreement, in which a backer funds the bets and takes a cut of any profits. Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026 With March Madness underway, many people are placing bets on their favorite games. Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026 Data suggests traders with advanced knowledge of geopolitical events may have collectively pocketed millions from recent bets on Polymarket. Rob Wile, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
The prediction market’s CEO, Tarek Mansour, told CNBC that bets on Bad Bunny’s first song alone exceeded $100 million in volume. Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026 If a new account opens and immediately bets on a single player micro-market, that’s suspicious. Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025 Similarly, if an existing account that typically bets $50 on certain games suddenly places a $1,000 bet, that outlier behavior could trigger an investigation. Dian Zhang, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025 Told no at every turn, Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bets
Noun
  • The United States and Israel have pursued a high-stakes geopolitical objective in Iran with the explicit aim of reshaping regional power balances, but the unintended consequence may be an equally profound reshaping of financial market regimes.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
  • That was one of our very strong stakes in the ground, to have a nuclear meltdown where the mountain collapses and Sinatra sacrifices herself.
    Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The viral video appeared to take that emphasis to an extreme, leaning heavily into dramatic editing choices more commonly associated with cinematic productions than traditional albums.
    Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The star running back and four-star recruit fielded offers from numerous Power Five schools, and had narrowed his choices down to the Fighting Irish along with Indiana, Penn State and Georgia.
    Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In theory, these wagers serve as a means of collecting the public’s insights into the future.
    Parker Bach, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The wagers could also have been placed by an institutional trader with ample financial reserves.
    John Cassidy, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Leaderboard 2026 Masters odds and betting favorites Scottie Scheffler is favored to win his third green jacket in five years at +550 by BetMGM and FanDuel.
    AJC Sports, AJC.com, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The Quebec Nordiques are the favorites for the top draft pick.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Instead, Carryboy puts the wet bathroom directly across the aisle and has the kitchen block extend out into the rear of the side entryway.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Understanding the options — from headers to fabric types — puts you in a stronger position to make choices that truly serve your space and your daily life.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Or how early the selections are made.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
  • The dominance of the Montverde girls soccer team was obvious throughout the 2025-26 season and it’s certainly reflected in this year’s Sentinel All-Area soccer selections, as nine Eagles players made this list.
    Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bets. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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