Words / B1

BET/bet/

To bet is to risk money on a result: bet on a race; place a bet. I bet (that)… is an informal way to say you are sure. Wager is more formal and rare in speech; gamble is the wider activity. A bet (noun) is the money or the agreement. Do not use bet for investing in a company in careful writing — say invest. You bet is a casual “yes”.

Meaning

To risk money on a result; also I bet meaning I am sure.

Examples

• “He bet twenty pounds on the horse race.”
• “I bet the train will be late again this evening.”
• “She placed a small bet on the local team to win.”

Good to know

bet on + event. place a bet. Informal certainty: I bet (that)…. Wider activity: gamble. Casual yes: You bet.

Near in meaning

wager

New