bet — to risk money on the result of an event or competition
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to risk money on the result of an event or competition
Pronunciation (IPA): /bet/
Example Sentences
- I bet you can't eat 10 hamburgers in one sitting!
- You bet I'm going to that concert - I've been waiting for tickets all year!
- My grandmother always bets on the lottery, saying 'someone has to win!'
bet
VERB[/bet/]
to risk money on the result of an event or competition

He decided to bet his last chips on a single roll of the dice.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'bet' derives from Old English 'abettan', meaning 'to support or aid'. By the 16th century, the meaning evolved to 'to risk or wager', reflecting a shift from general support to taking on risk or uncertainty.
Breakdown
abettan (Old English 'to support') → bet (shortened form); the semantic shift from 'aiding' to 'wagering' reflects the idea of committing oneself to an uncertain outcome.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“I bet you can't eat 10 hamburgers in one sitting!”
“You bet I'm going to that concert - I've been waiting for tickets all year!”
“My grandmother always bets on the lottery, saying 'someone has to win!'”
“I wouldn't bet against her success - she's incredibly determined.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.