wager

1 of 2

noun

wa·​ger ˈwā-jər How to pronounce wager (audio)
Synonyms of wagernext
1
a
: something (such as a sum of money) risked on an uncertain event : stake
b
: something on which bets are laid : gamble
do a stunt as a wager
2
archaic : an act of giving a pledge to take and abide by the result of some action

wager

2 of 2

verb

wagered; wagering
ˈwāj-riŋ,
ˈwā-jə- How to pronounce wager (audio)

intransitive verb

: to make a bet

transitive verb

: to risk or venture on a final outcome
specifically : to lay as a gamble : bet
wager $5 on a horse
wagerer
ˈwā-jər-ər How to pronounce wager (audio)
noun

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of wager in a Sentence

Noun He has a wager on the game. I don't think the horse will win. What's your wager? Verb She wagered $50 on the game. I wouldn't wager against them.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In the months before, Porter placed a total of 13 wagers on games varying from $15 to $22,000, per the NBA, though none of the bets were on games in which Porter participated, according to the announcement. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024 In time, the bets became more frequent and of higher denominations, amounting to thousands of wagers. —Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wager 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wager.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English wageour pledge, bet, from Anglo-French wageure, from *wager

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of wager was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing wager

Dictionary Entries Near wager

wage level

wager

wage rate

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Wager.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wager. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

wager

1 of 2 noun
wa·​ger ˈwā-jər How to pronounce wager (audio)
1
: something (as a sum of money) risked on an uncertain event : bet
2
: something (as the outcome of a game or race) on which a bet is made
: gamble

wager

2 of 2 verb
wagered; wagering ˈwāj-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce wager (audio)
: to bet on the outcome of a contest or question
wagerer
ˈwā-jər-ər How to pronounce wager (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wager

Nglish: Translation of wager for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wager

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