bet








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

  1. to wager with (something or someone).

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

  1. to make a wager: Do you want to bet?

noun

  1. a pledge of a forfeit risked on some uncertain outcome; wager: Where do we place our bets?
  2. that which is pledged: a two-dollar bet.
  3. 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.
  4. an act or instance of betting: It’s a bet, then?
  5. a person, plan of action, etc., considered as being a good alternative; choice: Your best bet is to sell your stocks now.
Idioms

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

noun

  1. beth.

Trademark.

  1. Black Entertainment Television: a cable television channel.

  1. between.

noun

  1. 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
  2. the money or stake risked
  3. the predicted result in such an agreementhis bet was that the horse would win
  4. a person, event, etc, considered as likely to succeed or occurit’s a good bet that they will succeed
  5. a course of action (esp in the phrase one’s best bet)
  6. informal an opinion; viewmy bet is that you’ve been up to no good

verb bets, betting, bet or betted

  1. (when intr foll by on or against) to make or place a bet with (a person or persons)
  2. (tr) to stake (money, etc) in a bet
  3. (tr; may take a clause as object) informal to predict (a certain outcome)I bet she fails
  4. you bet informal of course; naturally

1590s, as both a verb and noun, in the argot of petty criminals, of unknown origin; probably a shortening of abet or else from obsolete beet “to make good,” from Old English bætan “make better, arouse, stimulate,” from Proto-Germanic *baitjanan, in which case the verb would be the original. The original notion is perhaps “to improve” a contest by wagering on it, or it is from the “bait” sense in abet. Used since 1852 in various American English slang assertions (cf. you bet “be assured,” 1857). Related: Betting.

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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