sweepstakes

sweepstakes — noun

1. a prize draw or lottery that people enter for a chance to win money or another r

1.nounB2
Definition

a prize draw or lottery that people enter for a chance to win money or another reward.

Example

Mateo entered a supermarket sweepstakes to win free groceries for a year.

enter a sweepstakes to win a prize

The radio station's summer sweepstakes gave one listener a beach holiday.

promotional sweepstakes run by a company

Common collocations
  • enter a sweepstakes
  • run a sweepstakes
  • online sweepstakes
  • holiday sweepstakes
Synonyms
  • raffle

    usually involves numbered tickets sold for a draw

  • giveaway

    more informal, especially for online or promotional prizes

Usage Note

Often used for a store, website, or media promotion. People usually enter a sweepstakes for a prize rather than compete directly against each other in the event itself.

2. a competition in which many people or groups are all trying to win the same job,

2.nounC1
Definition

a competition in which many people or groups are all trying to win the same job, prize, or advantage.

Example

Three streaming services are leading the sweepstakes for the movie rights.

sweepstakes for a valuable deal

After two strong games, Tara moved to the front of the sweepstakes.

Common collocations
  • lead the sweepstakes
  • join the sweepstakes
  • the sweepstakes for
  • front of the sweepstakes
Synonyms
  • race

    more general and often less strongly tied to a prize or public contest

  • contest

    neutral word for a competitive event or struggle

Usage Note

Common with for + the thing people want to win, such as a contract, role, or title. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses on a prize draw, and sense 3, which involves money paid into a betting pool.

3. a betting pool where everyone pays to take part and the person who wins gets the

3.nounC1
Definition

a betting pool where everyone pays to take part and the person who wins gets the shared pot.

Example

At the office sweepstakes, everyone paid five dollars and picked a horse.

pay to join a betting sweepstakes

Reuben won the World Cup sweepstakes after guessing every match result.

sweepstakes based on predicted results

Common collocations
  • office sweepstakes
  • football sweepstakes
  • win the sweepstakes
  • put money into the sweepstakes
Synonyms
  • pool

    shorter and more general; often used for shared betting money

  • lottery

    broader; can involve random drawing rather than choosing a result

Usage Note

Usually involves a small payment and a prediction, such as choosing a horse or match result. Unlike sense 1, the prize normally comes from the money contributed by the people who join.

Etymology

English

The word joins sweep and stakes. In older gambling use, the stakes were the money put in by all the players, and the winner swept, or took, the whole amount.

First known use

1774

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1a