wagering
/ˈweɪ.dʒər/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈedʒɚɪŋ] /ˈweɪ.dʒɚ/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈedʒɚɪŋ] /ˈwā-jər How to pronounce wager (audio)/ (ame, mw)
wagering — verb
- wageringpresent simple I / you / we / they
- wagerings3rd person singular
- wageringing-ing form
- wageringedpast simple
1. to put money or something of personal value on the result of a race, game, or ot
to put money or something of personal value on the result of a race, game, or other uncertain event, hoping to get back more than you risked if your guess turns out to be right.
Hassan wagered fifty dollars on the horse he believed would win the race.
wager + amount + on + noun
Sana does not enjoy card games in which players wager large sums of money.
Outside the casino, men were wagering on the roll of a pair of dice.
Lukas wagered his watch against his friend's bicycle in a game of chess.
By midnight at the casino, Omar had wagered and lost every bill in his wallet.
- save
to keep money rather than risk it
文法句型
wager + money/object + on + outcome
wager + on + noun phrase
wager + that-clause
用法筆記
The object names what is risked (money, an item), and the preposition 'on' introduces the uncertain outcome. The pattern 'wager + object + against + object' is used when two people each put up something of value.
常見錯誤
2. to say with strong confidence that a particular situation is real or that a futu
to say with strong confidence that a particular situation is real or that a future event is going to take place, even without firm evidence — found almost always in the fixed expression 'I'll wager' meaning 'I feel sure'.
I'll wager that Reuben has already finished reading that entire novel.
I'll wager + that-clause (informal certainty)
The old innkeeper said he would wager his best room that the storm would last all night.
would wager + that-clause
I'll wager the train is running late — it has been behind schedule all week.
Hannah grinned and said, 'I'll wager the bus has already left without us.'
- doubt
to think something is unlikely
文法句型
I'll wager + that-clause
I would wager + that-clause
用法筆記
This sense is overwhelmingly used in first-person singular with 'will' contracted ('I'll wager'). Using 'he wagers' or 'they wagered' for certainty sounds unnatural. The 'that' after 'wager' can be dropped in casual speech.
常見錯誤
wagering — noun
1. the money or valuable item that a person agrees to lose if their prediction abou
the money or valuable item that a person agrees to lose if their prediction about a race, game, or other uncertain matter turns out to be wrong.
Mayumi placed a small wager on her favourite player before the tennis match started.
place a wager on + noun
The wager between the two neighbours was a home-cooked dinner for the winner.
Quan collected his prize after the race, which was eight times his original wager.
Each player had to put a wager of at least five dollars into the centre of the table.
Jessica made a friendly wager with her colleague about which team would win the final.
- savings
money kept safely rather than risked
用法筆記
Commonly pairs with verbs like 'place', 'make', 'put', 'accept'. The wager can be money or any item of agreed value. A 'friendly wager' has no real financial risk — the prize is usually something playful.
常見錯誤
2. the general practice or activity of risking money on the result of races, sports
the general practice or activity of risking money on the result of races, sports, games, or other uncertain events, with the aim of winning more money.
The city council passed new laws to control wagering in public places like bars.
Caio lost interest in wagering after spending too much money at the racetrack.
lost interest in wagering
Wagering on school sports matches is forbidden at this college.
Sayaka reads books about the history of wagering in different cultures around the world.
用法筆記
This is an uncountable noun that describes the activity in general, not a single instance. It is common in legal, regulatory, and historical contexts. The countable form 'wagerings' exists but is very rare.