Bet Meaning

/ˈbɛt/
B1

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounA wager, an agreement between two parties that a stake (usually money) will be paid by the loser to the winner (the winner being the one who correctly forecast the outcome of an event).

nounA candidate (for elections and pageants) or competitor (in multinational sports).

I'll bet he'd have a fit if his students fell asleep.
The best bet on a rainy day is to remain indoors.
You have to be over 16 to bet.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
I will ____ you twenty dollars that it rains before noon tomorrow.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He lost his ____ when the horse he chose came in last in the race.

From 16th-century criminal slang, perhaps from Middle English bet (“something better, advantage, luck”), from Old English bet, bett (“better”, adverb); or, alternatively from abet, from Middle English abet, abette, from Old French abet (“incitement to evil”), from Old French abeter (“to entice”), from a- (“to”) + beter (“hound on, urge, to bait”); ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *baitijan (“to bait, entice”), related to Old English bǣtan (“to bait”). More at abet.

"John a Gaunt loved him well, and betted much money on his head." — c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
"I'll bet you two to one I'll make him do it." — 1858, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., The Deacon's Masterpiece or The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay:
"Let me bust a freestyle then (Alright, bet)" — 1988, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, “If It Ain't Ruff”, in Straight Outta Compton, performed by N.W.A., track 4:
"He asked if KRS could come by and meet up with a few of us there on Monday night, as he wanted to show him the church and have me build with him. Aight, bet." — 2008 November 5, S.O.U.LMag, number 13, page 66:
"Then I rocked the Kansas show and after Jay said, ‘Look, if you want, you can go on tour with us and open and close the shows, but we can’t pay you, but we’ll make sure you get the exposure.’ So I said bet […]" — 2013 September 16, Insight News, volume 40, number 38, published 12 September 2013, page 6:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
I will ____ you twenty dollars that it rains before noon tomorrow.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He lost his ____ when the horse he chose came in last in the race.

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