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bet

/bɛt/
nounverbinterjectionpreposition

A 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).

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 3 meanings

  1. A 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).

    “Dylan owes Fletcher $30 from an unsuccessful bet.”

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

  3. Indicating a degree of certainty, or that something can be relied upon.

    “It’s a safe bet that it will rain tomorrow.”

Verb 3 meanings

  1. To stake or pledge upon the outcome of an event; to wager.

    “I('ll) bet I can run faster than you.”

  2. To be sure of something; to be able to count on something.

    “Fancy going for a drink after work? / You bet I do!”

  3. To place money into the pot in order to require others do the same, usually only used for the first person to place money in the pot on each round.

Interjection 3 meanings

  1. Expression of general agreement or acceptance.

  2. Exclamation indicating acceptance of a challenge or an absurd proposal.

  3. Exclamation of joy at good fortune.

Preposition 1 meaning

  1. between

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

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”).

BET at a glance

BET has 3 letters and scores 5 points in Scrabble (B 3 + E 1 + T 1) and 6 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #1,638 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.

Rhymes with bet

All rhymes
  • ALPHABET15
  • SORBET8
  • SHERBET12
  • ABET6
  • GIBBET11
  • BARBET10
  • RABBET10
  • FLIBBERTIGIBBET27
  • QUODLIBET21
  • EBBET9
  • ANALPHABET17
  • GOBBET11

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