WordGarden.ioparlay
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈɑːleɪ/
US
- /ˈpɑrleɪ/
Meanings
Verb
to turn an advantage or success into something more valuable
to combine bets or roll winnings into a larger wager
Noun
a combined bet that pays only if every selection wins
Beyond the definition
Imagine you've won a small bet at the racetrack. Instead of pocketing your winnings, you parlay them: you use that win to make another bet and try to grow it. That's the core idea behind "parlay." It means taking something you already have and using it to get something better or bigger.
Originally a gambling term, and still very common there, parlay is now used far beyond betting. Someone might parlay experience into a better job, or parlay a small idea into a real business. It is about turning one thing into another, often by being smart, bold, and a little willing to take a risk. Think of it as building on one success to reach the next step.
To parlay something means to use it as the basis for further gain or advantage. In plain terms, it means turning an initial asset, skill, chance, or success into something more valuable. The word comes from gambling, where a "parlay" bet uses the winnings from one wager as the stake for another, with the hope of increasing the total payout.
For example: "She parlayed her internship into a full-time job offer" means she used the experience and connections from her internship to get permanent work. Or, "He parlayed his coding skills into a successful career in tech" means he built on what he already knew and turned it into a bigger opportunity.
The word often appears in work, business, politics, sports, and entertainment. A politician might parlay public support into election wins, while an entrepreneur could parlay a small loan into a growing company. In each case, the pattern is the same: something limited at the start becomes something larger later.
The key idea is growth through smart use of what you already have. Sometimes there is risk involved, especially in betting, but the word usually suggests skill and good timing as well. Parlay can also be a noun in gambling, as in "He placed a five-team parlay." Whether used in sports betting or in everyday life, the word captures the idea of turning a small start into a bigger result.
Examples
- 1
Gambling result
He parlayed a small bet into enough money to pay for dinner.
- 2
Online career
She parlayed one popular video into a full-time career online.
- 3
Startup funding
The company parlayed early media attention into a round of investment.
- 4
Job opportunity
He hoped to parlay his volunteer work into a paid job at the museum.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Sports betting
I put a $10 parlay on three games, but the last team lost.
See also
Similar
- leverage
- capitalize on
- turn into
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- squander
- cash out
Used with (collocations)
- parlay something into something
- parlay winnings into a larger stake
- parlay success into a career
- parlay influence into power
Word family
Explore
- reinvestment
- opportunity cost
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- parlayverbnoun
Forms
- parlayedpast tenseverbnoun
- parlaysverbnoun
- parlaying-ing formverbnoun