bet
gb/bˈɛt/ us/bˈɛt/
B1
English
~ 4400
fogadás, tét, fogad, feltesz, lefogad, legjobb megoldás, biztosra vesz
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
to place [a bet] on [something]
He placed a $50 bet on the horse race.
50 dolláros fogadást tett a lóversenyre.
The bet was that she could run faster than him.
A fogadás arról szólt, hogy a lány gyorsabban tud futni a fiúnál.
I lost my bet when my team failed to score.
Learner examples
I made a small bet on the game.
Kisebb fogadást tettem a meccsre.
She won the bet and got $20.
Megnyerte a fogadást, és 20 dollárt kapott.
He lost the bet and paid me.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bet' with 'debt'; 'bet' is about risking money, 'debt' is money you owe.
Meaning
Money risked on an outcome
Collocations
place a bet
|make a bet
|win a bet
|lose a bet
|big bet
Synonyms
wager (A more formal or slightly old-fashioned word for the same concept.)
Antonyms
sure thing (Refers to something certain, not involving risk.)
Themes
games
|sports
|gambling
|finance
|daily_life
Definition
Money or something valuable you risk because you think you will win in a game or competition.
An amount of money or something valuable that is risked on the result of a game, race, or other uncertain event.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to bet [amount] on [something]
I bet $10 on the red team.
10 dollárral fogadtam a piros csapatra.
They bet all their savings on that risky investment.
Minden megtakarításukat arra a kockázatos befektetésre tették fel.
She never bets on horse racing.
Learner examples
I bet $5 on my team.
5 dollárral fogadtam a csapatomra.
He bets every weekend at the casino.
Minden hétvégén fogad a kaszinóban.
We bet on who will win the race.
Common mistake:
Some learners mistakenly use 'bet' without 'on' when talking about what they are predicting.
Meaning
Risk money on an outcome
Collocations
bet heavily
|bet wisely
|bet against
|bet on a game
Synonyms
gamble (A broader term that can also include games of chance without betting on events.)
Antonyms
abstain (To choose not to participate in betting or gambling.)
Themes
games
|sports
|gambling
|finance
|daily_life
Definition
To risk money because you think you will guess the winner of a game or competition.
To risk money or something valuable by predicting the result of a game, race, or uncertain event.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
3
lefogad
B2
Usage pattern:
I bet (that) [clause]
I bet she'll be late again.
Lefogadom, hogy megint késni fog.
You can bet he won't forget your birthday.
Lefogadhatod, hogy nem fogja elfelejteni a születésnapodat.
I wouldn't bet on them winning this year.
Learner examples
I bet she will call soon.
Lefogadom, hogy hamarosan felhív.
You can bet it will rain today.
Lefogadhatod, hogy ma esni fog.
I would not bet on him coming.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with literal betting using money; here it just means being sure.
Meaning
Say confidently something will happen
Collocations
you can bet
|I bet that
|want to bet
Synonyms
guarantee (Stronger and more formal; implies certainty rather than confident prediction.)
Antonyms
doubt (To be unsure or question whether something will happen.)
Themes
communication
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To say you are sure something will happen or is true.
To state confidently that something will happen or is true, often inviting others to challenge it.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
[someone's] best bet is to [verb]
Your best bet is to take the train at this hour.
Ilyenkor az a legjobb megoldás, ha vonattal mész.
It’s a safe bet he’ll be there early.
Biztosra vehető, hogy korán ott lesz.
Going by taxi might be your best bet.
Learner examples
Your best bet is to call first.
Az a legjobb megoldás, ha előbb telefonálsz.
It is a safe bet she will win.
Biztosra vehető, hogy nyerni fog.
The bus is your best bet now.
Meaning
Best choice in uncertainty
Collocations
best bet
|safe bet
Synonyms
option (A general term for something you can choose; does not imply likelihood of success.)
Antonyms
long shot (A choice with a low chance of success.)
Themes
advice
|decisions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The choice that is most likely to be good when you are not sure what will happen.
The most suitable or likely choice in a situation where the outcome is not certain.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bet
IPA
GB/bˈɛt/
US/bˈɛt/
Syllables & stress
bet (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (bet)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: bet
- Plural: bets
Verb
- Base: bet
- 3rd Person Singular: bets
- Present Participle: betting
- Past: bet, betted
- Past Participle: bet
Word family
Forms
bets
noun
betting
verb
betted
verb
Related words
bettor
noun
wager
noun B2
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: betting Verb
- Irregular past: bet, betted Verb
- Irregular past participle: bet Verb
Expressions
best bet
1/bˈɛst bˈɛt/
idiom
informal
Most suitable option in uncertainty
The best choice when you are not sure what will happen.
Examples
- Your best bet is to leave early to avoid traffic.
- If you want fresh bread, your best bet is the bakery down the street.
bet against (something)
1/bˈɛt əɡˈɛnst sˈʌmθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
Risk money predicting failure of event
To risk money because you think something will not happen or succeed.
Examples
- Many investors are betting against the company’s stock.
- He bet against his own team, which upset the fans.
safe bet
1/sˈeɪf bˈɛt/
idiom
Choice likely to succeed
Something that is likely to happen or be true, so it is not risky.
Examples
- It’s a safe bet that prices will rise next year.
- Choosing the experienced candidate is a safe bet.
want to bet?
1/wˈɔnt tə bˈɛt ‖/
idiom
informal
Challenge someone's certainty with a wager
Used to ask if someone wants to risk something because they are sure they are right.
Examples
- You think you can beat me? Want to bet?
- Want to bet I can finish this pizza?
you can bet (your life/anything)
1/jˈu kən bˈɛt jˈʊɹ lˈaɪfənˈɪθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
Be certain about something happening
Used to say you are very sure about what will happen or is true.
Examples
- You can bet your life he’ll be late again.
- You can bet anything that she’ll say yes.