venture
Americannoun
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an undertaking involving uncertainty as to the outcome, especially a risky or dangerous one.
a mountain-climbing venture.
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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.
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the money, ship, cargo, merchandise, or the like, on which risk is taken in a business enterprise or speculation.
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Obsolete. hazard or risk.
verb (used with object)
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to expose to hazard; risk.
to venture one's fortune;
to venture one's life.
- Synonyms:
- jeopardize, imperil, endanger
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to take the risk of; brave the dangers of.
to venture a voyage into space.
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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.
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to take the risk of sending.
verb (used without object)
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to make or embark upon a venture; dare to enter or go.
He ventured deep into the jungle.
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to take a risk; dare; presume.
to venture on an ambitious program of reform.
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to invest venture capital.
adjective
idioms
verb
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(tr) to expose to danger; hazard
he ventured his life
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(tr) to brave the dangers of (something)
I'll venture the seas
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(tr) to dare (to do something)
does he venture to object?
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(tr; may take a clause as object) to express in spite of possible refutation or criticism
I venture that he is not that honest
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(intr; often foll by out, forth, etc) to embark on a possibly hazardous journey, undertaking, etc
to venture forth upon the high seas
noun
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an undertaking that is risky or of uncertain outcome
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a commercial undertaking characterized by risk of loss as well as opportunity for profit
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the merchandise, money, or other property placed at risk in such an undertaking
-
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something hazarded or risked in an adventure; stake
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archaic chance or fortune
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at random; by chance
Synonym Usage
See dare.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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venturesimple
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venturessimple
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have venturedperfect
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has venturedperfect
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am venturingprogressive
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are venturingprogressive
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is venturingprogressive
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have been venturingperfect progressive
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has been venturingperfect progressive
Past
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venturedsimple
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had venturedperfect
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was venturingprogressive
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were venturingprogressive
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had been venturingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of venture
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, shortened from aventure adventure
Explanation
A venture is a risky undertaking. If your latest venture is a dog food store, you hope there are some hungry dogs around. Also, to venture is to go somewhere possibly dangerous, like if you venture out into a snowstorm. Venture is a shortened form of adventure. This happened sometime between 1100 CE and 1400 CE during the time that Middle English was spoken. While the two words are similar in meaning, when you subtract the ad, you lose a teaspoon or two of fun, and add a heaping tablespoon of risk.
Vocabulary lists containing venture
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 7
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"The Cask of Amontillado"
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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.
StepStone Private Venture and Growth Fund, also known as Spring, posted a 43% return for the fiscal year ended March 31.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026
Venture capitalist and conservative activist Peter Thiel served as his mentor, funding his career in finance and underwriting Vance’s own business.
From Salon • Jun. 25, 2026
Cheniere Energy was down less than 3%, compared with declines of roughly 6% to 8% for Venture Global and NextDecade.
From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026
But Ruth Foxe-Blader, managing partner at US venture capital firm Citrine Venture Partners, previously said that the sheer number of projects SpaceX was taking on was appealing.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
In Baltimore’s Preakness Stakes, Stout stuck to his stirrups but finished second to Derby winner Bold Venture, foiled by the brilliant reinsmanship of Seabiscuit’s onetime jockey, George Woolf.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions 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.
