adventure

[ad-ven-cher]

noun

1. an exciting or very unusual experience.

2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises.

   the spirit of adventure.

3. a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.

4. a commercial or financial speculation of any kind; venture.

5. Obsolete.

   1. peril; danger; risk.

   2. chance; fortune; luck.

verb (used with object)

adventured, adventuring 

1. to risk or hazard.

2. to take the chance of; dare.

3. to venture to say or utter.

   to adventure an opinion.

verb (used without object)

adventured, adventuring 

1. to take the risk involved.

2. to venture; hazard.

adventure

/ ədˈvɛntʃə /

noun

1. a risky undertaking of unknown outcome

2. an exciting or unexpected event or course of events

3. a hazardous financial operation; commercial speculation

4. obsolete

   1. danger or misadventure

   2. chance

verb

1. to take a risk or put at risk

2. to dare to go or enter (into a place, dangerous activity, etc)

3. to dare to say (something)

   he adventured his opinion

Other Word Forms

• adventureful adjective
• unadventuring adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of adventure¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English aventure, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Vulgar Latin adventūra (unrecorded) “what must happen,” feminine (originally neuter plural) of Latin adventūrus future participle of advenīre “to arrive”; ad- ad- replacing a- a- ⁵; advent, -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of adventure¹

C13: aventure (later altered to adventure after the Latin spelling), via Old French ultimately from Latin advenīre to happen to (someone), arrive

Example Sentences

While this mycological Nepal adventure peaks at Everest Base Camp, the real action takes place in the forests on its lower slopes on the way up.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The final days of what was supposed to be a retirement adventure turned into repeated calls with customer service.

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I was reminded of old-fashioned adventure video games, where one is prompted to look at objects, combine them or go on scavenger hunts, like the one prompted by the puppet I met in an alley.

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On Saturday he will face Reece Bellotti in Sheffield in a bout that marks the start of a new adventure for the now full-time fighter as he attempts to crack the super-featherweight division.

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In August, it closed Paramount Television Studios, which produced series including action thriller Jack Ryan and children's adventure series The Spiderwick Chronicles.

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Related Words

• experience 
• exploit 
• feat 
• scene 
• trip