Library / English Dictionary

BET

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: betted    , betting   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of gambling

Example:

he did it on a bet

Synonyms:

bet; wager

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("bet" is a kind of...):

gambling; gaming; play (the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bet"):

daily double (a single bet on two horse races in the same day)

exacta; perfecta (a bet that you can pick the first and second finishers in the right order)

parimutuel (betting where winners share the total amount wagered)

parlay (a series of wagers in which the winnings from one wager are used as a stake for the subsequent wagers)

place bet (a bet that a horse will finish a race no worse than second)

superfecta (a bet that you can pick the first four finishers in a race in the right order)

Derivation:

bet (stake on the outcome of an issue)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The money risked on a gamble

Synonyms:

bet; stake; stakes; wager

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("bet" is a kind of...):

gamble (money that is risked for possible monetary gain)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bet"):

jackpot; kitty; pot (the cumulative amount involved in a game (such as poker))

ante ((poker) the initial contribution that each player makes to the pot)

kitty; pool (the combined stakes of the betters)

Holonyms ("bet" is a part of...):

pool (any communal combination of funds)

Derivation:

bet (stake on the outcome of an issue)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Have faith or confidence in

Example:

Depend on your family in times of crisis

Synonyms:

bank; bet; calculate; count; depend; look; reckon; rely; swear

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "bet" is one way to...):

trust (have confidence or faith in)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Maintain with or as if with a bet

Example:

I bet she will be there!

Synonyms:

bet; wager

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "bet" is one way to...):

anticipate; call; forebode; foretell; predict; prognosticate; promise (make a prediction about; tell in advance)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Also:

bet on (place a bet on)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Stake on the outcome of an issue

Example:

She played all her money on the dark horse

Synonyms:

bet; play; wager

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "bet" is one way to...):

gamble (play games for money)

Verb group:

play (make bets)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "bet"):

back; bet on; gage; game; punt; stake (place a bet on)

play (make bets)

raise (bet more than the previous player)

see (match or meet)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They bet the money

Derivation:

bet (the act of gambling)

bet (the money risked on a gamble)

better; bettor (someone who bets)

Credits

 Context examples: 

A majority of the men who had witnessed the making of the bet decided in his favor, whereat the odds went up to three to one against Buck.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

“When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the ‘Pink ’un’ protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet,” said he.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As Desborough, their horse, was second in the betting, they had an interest in the disappearance of the favourite.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But I am prepared to bet that you will not guess the form that my exercise has taken.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Grant will just do; and though we play but half-crowns, you know, you may bet half-guineas with him.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

At first there seemed danger of Lydia's engrossing him entirely, for she was a most determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes to have attention for anyone in particular.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“By the way, Tregellis,” said Fox, “there’s some rumour about your having a sporting bet with Sir Lothian Hume. What’s the truth of it?”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Nothing happens without your participation, but I bet you are eager to showcase your talents and all you have to give the world.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He fed himself like that for years an' years, on a boy's stomach, an' I bet his stomach's none too good now for it.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“And I’ll bet he sleeps in it,” Harrison added.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)