wager

1 of 2

noun

wa·​ger ˈwā-jər 

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- 

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 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• bet
• stake

Verb

• bet
• gamble
• go
• lay
• play
• put
• stake

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

What prosecutors say about Mizuhara's bets Mizuhara placed around 19,000 bets in just over two years, a rate of about two dozen wagers every day, according to the criminal complaint, which cited a betting record provided to them by a cooperator inside the bookmaking operation. —Becky Sullivan, NPR, 4 June 2024

While not all of them have panned out—the HoloLens mixed-reality headset, for example, was effectively shut down last year—one big wager has: generative AI. —Fortune Editors, Fortune, 4 June 2024

Verb

In this case, a bettor would need to wager $140 to profit $100 on Trump to win the debate. —Tribune News Service, Orange County Register, 21 May 2024

Some heavy-hitters threw their support behind both candidates, wagering political capital on the close race. —Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2024

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

Phrases Containing wager

• place/make a wager

Kids Definition

wager

1 of 2 noun

wa·​ger ˈwā-jər 

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 

: to bet on the outcome of a contest or question

wagerer

ˈwā-jər-ər 

noun