noun
parlay
PAH-lay
noun
1
A bet in which the original stake and all its winnings are rolled forward into further bets.
"He turned a $10 parlay into a $400 payout by picking four winning teams in a row."
verb
1
To turn something small into something much bigger through a series of successful moves.
"She parlayed her internship into a full-time job offer."
"He parlayed his winnings into an even bigger bet."
How to Use Parlay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo roll winnings or an early success forward into something bigger, whether in gambling or in life.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "parley" (a conference or truce talk) — they sound alike but come from separate word histories.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
parlay winnings
a five-team parlay
parlay success into
Word Forms
parlays plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “parlay”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He turned a $10 _____ into a $400 payout by picking four winning teams in a row.
Etymology
From Italian paroli, "doubled stake," via French — unrelated in origin to "parley," despite the similar sound.