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

Traders can place wagers on whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will win the presidential election, on which party will control the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and on individual Senate races in key battleground states like Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania. —John Hyatt, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

While the capsule showcases a full spectrum of timeless-yet-trending colors for 2025, Wadden wagers that the muted botanical of Mauve Finery might have been the go-to choice if Sherwin-Williams were to stick with just one color. —Tim Nelson, Architectural Digest, 17 Oct. 2024

Verb

In the case of the 2024 World Series, a bettor would need to wager $450 on the Dodgers to win the World Series in order to earn a $100 profit. —Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024

Harris aides have wagered their campaign can squeeze even more juice from these areas this time, especially with women voters. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 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