betting

UK: ˈbetɪŋ | US: ˈbetɪŋ

Definition

  1. n. the act of placing a wager or gambling

  2. v. (gerund/present participle of "bet") risking money on an outcome

Structure
bet <to wager>ing <noun/verb suffix>
Etymology

The word "bet" originates from the 16th century, likely derived from the obsolete English term "abet" (to encourage or support), which itself traces back to Old French "abeter." The "-ing" suffix is a productive English morpheme used to form gerunds (noun forms) or present participles (verb forms). Thus, "betting" literally means "the act of wagering" or "engaging in a wager."

Examples

  1. He lost all his savings due to excessive betting.

  2. Betting on sports is illegal in some countries.

  3. She enjoys betting on horse races occasionally.

  4. The casino strictly regulates betting limits.

  5. Online betting has become increasingly popular.