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 of wager

Noun

• stake
• bet

Verb

• bet
• put

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

First, how is betting on the first song Bad Bunny performed at the Super Bowl — which topped $100 million in wagers on Kalshi — any different from betting on black at a casino’s roulette table? —Editorial, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026

His arrest comes as Polymarket and Kalshi have grown in popularity and as concerns have grown about people with inside information making wagers on those prediction market platforms. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026

Verb

Extra perks include a Chanel counter in the ladies powder room with a makeup artist and seamstress on hand for a helping spritz ‘n’ stitch, while those chasing Derby glory stick close to the dedicated betting advisor for the inside track on the top trainers and horses to wager on. —Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026

More than $2 billion in bets have been wagered globally related to the Iran war on Polymarket — the world’s largest prediction market — an NBC News analysis revealed. —Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for wager

• ager
• gauger
• pager
• stager
• yager
• teenager

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