venture

[ven-cher]

noun

1. an undertaking involving uncertainty as to the outcome, especially a risky or dangerous one.

   a mountain-climbing venture.

2. a business enterprise or speculation in which something is risked in the hope of profit; a commercial or other speculation.

   Their newest venture allows you to order their products online.

3. the money, ship, cargo, merchandise, or the like, on which risk is taken in a business enterprise or speculation.

4. Obsolete.,  hazard or risk.

verb (used with object)

ventured, venturing 

1. to expose to hazard; risk.

   to venture one's fortune;

   to venture one's life.

   Synonyms: jeopardize, imperil, endanger

2. to take the risk of; brave the dangers of.

   to venture a voyage into space.

3. to undertake to express, as when opposition or resistance appears likely to follow; be bold enough; dare.

   I venture to say that you are behaving foolishly.

4. to take the risk of sending.

verb (used without object)

ventured, venturing 

1. to make or embark upon a venture; dare to enter or go.

   He ventured deep into the jungle.

2. to take a risk; dare; presume.

   to venture on an ambitious program of reform.

3. to invest venture capital.

adjective

1. of or relating to an investment or investments in new businesses.

   a venture fund.

venture

/ ˈvɛntʃə /

verb

1. (tr) to expose to danger; hazard

   he ventured his life

2. (tr) to brave the dangers of (something)

   I'll venture the seas

3. (tr) to dare (to do something)

   does he venture to object?

4. (tr; may take a clause as object) to express in spite of possible refutation or criticism

   I venture that he is not that honest

5. (intr; often foll by out, forth, etc) to embark on a possibly hazardous journey, undertaking, etc

   to venture forth upon the high seas

noun

1. an undertaking that is risky or of uncertain outcome

2. 1. a commercial undertaking characterized by risk of loss as well as opportunity for profit

   2. the merchandise, money, or other property placed at risk in such an undertaking

3. something hazarded or risked in an adventure; stake

4. archaic,  chance or fortune

5. at random; by chance

Other Word Forms

• venturer noun
• preventure noun
• unventured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of venture¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, shortened from aventure adventure

Word History and Origins

Origin of venture¹

C15: variant of aventure _adventure

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at a venture, according to chance; at random.

   A successor was chosen at a venture.

see nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Synonym Study

See dare.

Example Sentences

The technology minister says the new digital park will also be home to The University of Technology, which is a joint venture between Taiwan and Paraguay.

Read more on BBC

All these ventures are likely years away, would cost in the hundreds of millions and raise all customers’ water rates.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The ICE raid and this year’s worker deaths occurred at the site of a battery factory that is a Hyundai joint venture with LG Energy Solution.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

After the tarps went back up, blocking sightlines into the camp, Maxwell ventured out more, inmates said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Sediment analysis confirmed the existence of these ancient water sources, which would have provided essential support for human groups venturing into the desert interior and allowed them to survive in this challenging environment.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• deal 
• endeavor 
• enterprise 
• experiment 
• investment 
• project 
• undertaking