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Bet vs Gamble - What's the difference?

bet | gamble |

As nouns the difference between bet and gamble

is that bet is a wager, an agreement between two parties that a stake (usually money) will be paid by the loser to the winner (the winner being the one who correctly forecast the outcome of an event) while gamble is a significant risk, undertaken with a potential gain.

As verbs the difference between bet and gamble

is that bet is to stake or pledge upon the outcome of an event; to wager while gamble is to take a risk, with the potential of a positive outcome.

As proper nouns the difference between bet and gamble

is that bet is a diminutive of Elizabeth while Gamble is {{surname|lang=en}.

As an initialism BET

is a nitrogen adsorption technique used to measure the specific surface area of a solid.

bet

English

Etymology 1

From 16th century criminal slang, likely from abet or (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A wager, an agreement between two parties that a stake (usually money) will be paid by the loser to the winner (the winner being the one who correctly forecast the outcome of an event).
    • Dylan owes Fletcher $30 from an unsuccessful bet.
  • A degree of certainty.
    • It’s a safe bet that it will rain tomorrow.
    It’s an even bet that Jim will come top of the maths test tomorrow

    Verb

  • To stake or pledge upon the outcome of an event; to wager.
  • * Shakespeare
    • John a Gaunt loved him well, and betted much money on his head.
  • * O. W. Holmes
    • I'll bet you two to one I'll make him do it.
  • To be sure of something; to be able to count on something.
    • You bet !
  • (poker) To place money into the pot in order to require others do the same, usually only used for the first person to place money in the pot on each round.
    • Derived terms
    * bet one's boots * bet one's bottom dollar * bet the farm

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Noun

    • Etymology 3

    gamble

    English

    (wikipedia gamble)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A significant risk, undertaken with a potential gain.
  • A risky venture
    • ''The sailors had taken many gambles with the sea and always won.

    Verb

    (gambl)
  • To take a risk, with the potential of a positive outcome.
  • To play risky games, especially casino games, for monetary gain.
  • To risk (something) for potential gain.
    • He gambled his reputation on the outcome.
  • To interact with equipment at a casino

    • See also

    * game of chance