risk
Americannoun
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risks
plural
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exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance.
It's not worth the risk.
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Insurance.
-
the hazard or chance of loss.
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the degree of probability of such loss.
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the amount that the insurance company may lose.
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a person or thing with reference to the hazard involved in insuring him, her, or it.
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the type of loss, as life, fire, marine disaster, or earthquake, against which an insurance policy is drawn.
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verb (used with object)
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risks,
present (3rd person singular)
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risked,
past participle, past
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risking
present participle
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to expose to the chance of injury or loss; hazard.
to risk one's life.
- Synonyms:
- jeopardize, endanger, imperil
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to venture upon; take or run the chance of.
to risk a fall in climbing;
to risk a war.
- Synonyms:
- chance
idioms
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take / run a risk, to expose oneself to the chance of injury or loss; put oneself in danger; hazard; venture.
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at risk,
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in a dangerous situation or status; in jeopardy.
families at risk in the area of the weakened dam.
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under financial or legal obligation; held responsible.
Are individual investors at risk for the debt part of the real estate venture?
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noun
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the possibility of incurring misfortune or loss; hazard
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insurance
-
chance of a loss or other event on which a claim may be filed
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the type of such an event, such as fire or theft
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the amount of the claim should such an event occur
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a person or thing considered with respect to the characteristics that may cause an insured event to occur
-
-
-
vulnerable; likely to be lost or damaged
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social welfare vulnerable to personal damage, to the extent that a welfare agency might take protective responsibility
-
-
informal an expression of assent
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to proceed in an action without regard to the possibility of danger involved in it
verb
-
to expose to danger or loss; hazard
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to act in spite of the possibility of (injury or loss)
to risk a fall in climbing
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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risksimple
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riskssimple
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have riskedperfect
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has riskedperfect
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am riskingprogressive
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are riskingprogressive
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is riskingprogressive
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have been riskingperfect progressive
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has been riskingperfect progressive
Past
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riskedsimple
-
had riskedperfect
-
was riskingprogressive
-
were riskingprogressive
-
had been riskingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of risk
First recorded in 1655–65; from French risque, from Italian rischio, risco, of obscure origin
Explanation
A risk is an action that holds a chance of danger or failure. Although it's fun jump around on glaciers, the risk of falling down a crack into a freezing lake might deter you from ice climbing. Risk comes from the French for danger. As nouns, risk and danger are close synonyms. The verb risk means to run a danger, in hopes of reward. So risk is similar to gamble. If you're very ill, you might risk a dangerous surgery. We also use risk for money or security. You can risk your good health by working with infected patients without sterile equipment. Or you can risk your life savings on the stock market.
Vocabulary lists containing risk
Beowulf vocabulary
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"Too Young to Drive?" and "Rules of the Road"
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Week 1: Meeting a Need
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The mission has monitored military developments and helped reduce the risk of escalation.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
Over time, these deposits can restrict blood flow and increase the risk of heart disease.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026
Oil futures posted their biggest one-day percentage decline since July as diplomatic efforts toward direct peace talks between the U.S. and Iran subtracted risk premium from the market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
“The risk shifts to Lumentum holders, who will get Marvell’s paper and will be betting that the stock holds up.”
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
“Probably, but I’d rather risk a code violation than let the residents go hungry,” Leyla replied.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
Meanwhile, maritime security risks persisted in the region.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
Every president since George W. Bush has come into the White House hoping to limit America’s risks and costs in the Middle East.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Without proper protections, "any factory or equipment" connected to the internet - ranging from carmakers to electricity or transport infrastructure - could face similar risks, said Olivier Daloy, a cybersecurity expert at Zscaler.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
Cyberattacks affecting supermarket refrigeration systems in several European countries on Monday highlighted the risks associated with connecting industrial equipment to the internet.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
I expected them to be shocked that, once upon a time on Wall Street, the CEOs had only the vaguest idea of the complicated risks their bond traders were running.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
He also suggested that the platform risked a drop in relevance as its larger rivals competed more aggressively.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026
Delaying access would have risked the loss of evidence, the force said.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
The expert warned that the country of around 50 million people risked becoming "a society of inheritors" in which home ownership depends on parents passing property to their children.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
The captain faced attack from the U.S. but, lacking permission from Tehran to return to an Iranian port, he also risked being hit by Iranian forces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Once a day someone risked their life to run upstairs for food and water and kerosene for the lamp.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
Mr. Makos tends to see the best in those risking their lives for country and comrades.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
The Centre for Cities think tank says some areas may not have the expertise to manage developed powers effectively, risking deeper economic inequalities between areas.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Mahlum founded Pilates-inspired Solidcore in 2013 with just $175,000, risking everything for its success.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026
In the developing world, he added, governments are being forced to make the "impossible" choice between cutting support for their poorest citizens or risking their entire development agenda.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
If Mr. Robinson was struggling and risking his safety for his equality, there must be many other people up North doing the same thing.
From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
