bet

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /bɛt/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like bat /ɛ/ vs /æ/ Sounds like vet /v/ vs /b/

Freq #643

Meanings

1

verb
To risk money on the result of a race, game, or event.

I bet $100 on the new horse to win the race.
2

noun
An agreement to risk money on the result of an event, paid by the loser to the winner.

He won a bet on the football match.
3

verb
To feel sure that something is true or will happen.

I bet my team is going to win on Saturday.

Verb forms

bet, bet, bet irregular verb

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to risk money on the result... play wager

2 noun · an agreement to risk money... wager

3 verb · to feel sure that something... reckon

Word family

Derived forms if-betmultibetoverbetunderbet

Appears in

Phrases (4)

See all

lose a bet
to fail in a wager

Verb + noun
make a bet
to agree to a wager with someone

Verb + noun
place a bet
to wager money on an outcome

Verb + noun
win a bet
to succeed in a wager

Verb + noun

Proverbs (2)

See all

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”). More at abet.

bet Old English abet Middle English abeter Old French *baitijan Proto-West Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# bet

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /bɛt/
**Frequency rank:** 643

## Meanings
1. To risk money on the result of a race, game, or event.
2. An agreement to risk money on the result of an event, paid by the loser to the winner.
3. To feel sure that something is true or will happen.

## Examples
- I bet $100 on the new horse to win the race.
- He won a bet on the football match.
- I bet my team is going to win on Saturday.

## Derived Forms
- if-bet
- multibet
- overbet
- underbet

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: bet
- Root: abet
- Root: abeter
- Root: *baitijan

## 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”). More at abet.

## AI Etymology
Bet comes 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.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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