Thesaurus results for WAGER

wager 1 of 2

noun

ˈwā-jər

Definition of wager

as in stake

the money or thing risked on the outcome of an uncertain event lost her wager when the horse dropped out of the race

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wager

2 of 2

verb

as in to bet

to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event wagered 20 dollars that his favorite team would win

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of wager

Noun

The judge in the case said Minnesota’s total ban went too far but that US law may allow states to ban prediction-market wagers that don’t meet the legal definition of swaps. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026 State law now bans proposition betting in sports — wagers on certain events happening in a game, rather than the game’s outcome — which is a significant source of revenue for the leading prediction markets. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

Verb

The function’s creator, Bernhard Riemann, wagered that the only way to make that output sum to exactly zero is to make the input variable’s real part exactly 1⁄2. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026 The on-track wagering handle has plunged even more drastically. — Stephen J. K. Walters, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wager

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wager

Noun

Backstage, Tommaso Ciampa says this year’s Casino Gauntlet has the biggest stakes since the winner earns a chance at the AEW World Championship.

— Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
One of Thrive’s subsidiaries, Thrive Eternal, focuses on sports acquisitions, purchasing and selling a stake in the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies before acquiring stakes in the Miami Heat and MLB’s San Francisco Giants, among others.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of stake

Verb

Just 4% reported playing a fantasy sports game for money, and just 2% reported betting on a prediction market, such as Polymarket or Kalshi.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 18 Aug. 2026
The confidence the organization hoped to see by betting on them has so far produced positive returns.

— Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of bet

Verb

But others take issue with her premise the exercises are unnecessary, arguing that scaling them back puts US forces –– almost 30,000 of them stationed in South Korea and over 50,000 more in nearby Japan –– in a more dangerous situation.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Paying it would inevitably put Meta Platforms in bankruptcy and perhaps put the company under state ownership.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of put

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wage earners

wager

wagered

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“Wager.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wager. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of wager

noun

verb

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