# bet

/ˈbɛt/ (US) · /bˈɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bet
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to wager money

verb · CEFR A2

to risk money on a race or game because you think you know who will win.

For teachers: to stake a sum of money or other value on the outcome of an unpredictable event. Often used with 'on'.

- He decided to bet ten dollars on his favorite horse in the third race.
- Professional gamblers often bet significant sums on sporting events where they believe the bookmakers have miscalculated the true probability of the outcome.

Usage: The verb is often ditransitive, taking both an indirect object (the person) and a direct object (the amount).

### 2. to be certain

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to be very sure that something is true or will happen.

For teachers: to express a high degree of certainty regarding a future event or a present fact.

- I bet it will rain later today because the sky is getting very dark.
- Given the current economic indicators, I would bet that the central bank will raise interest rates before the end of the fiscal quarter.

Usage: Commonly followed by a 'that' clause, though 'that' is frequently omitted in speech.

### 3. a wager

noun · CEFR A2

an agreement to risk money on a result.

For teachers: an arrangement or stake made on the outcome of an event.

- We made a small bet on who would finish the race first.
- The two colleagues placed a friendly bet on the election results, with the loser agreeing to pay for lunch.

### 4. an opinion or choice

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the best choice or action to take in a situation.

For teachers: a person, thing, or course of action regarded as a candidate for success.

- If you want to arrive on time, the train is your best bet.
- Analysts suggest that diversified index funds remain the safest bet for long-term investors seeking steady growth without excessive risk.

## Examples

- He placed a small bet on his favorite team to win.
- After looking at the dark clouds, my best bet is that it will rain before the picnic starts.
- While the startup's technology was unproven, the venture capital firm decided it was a safe bet given the experienced leadership team and growing market demand.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.