bet

The word "bet" is used to express some opinion about the future. It’s often associated with gambling or risking something of value.

In these sentences, "bet" is a verb:

• Tony bet $20 on a horse at the racetrack.
• Sandra likes to bet on the outcome of football games.
• How much would you like to bet?
• I’ll bet you ten dollars your team doesn’t win.
• Vince bet all of his money in a poker game and lost.

When used as a verb, "bet" also means that a person has a strong belief that something is true.

• I’ll bet the price of a gallon of gas will go up this summer.
• What do you want to bet it rains tomorrow during the game?
• They’re betting on a better future in sunny California.

In the next set of sentences and questions, the word "bet" is a noun:

• Tony placed a twenty-dollar bet on a horse.
• They made a good bet on the house they purchased.
• What kind of a bet do you want to make?
• Betting isn’t allowed in here. (The word "betting" is a gerund in this sentence.)
• That was a terrible bet.

Note: The word "bet" can be used when saying "You’re welcome." When someone says "thank-you," sometimes Americans reply with, "You bet." The contracted form of this is "You betcha." (betcha = bet you)

• A: Thanks for helping me.
• B: You bet.

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First published on May 12, 2013; Updated on May 2, 2017.