adventure

American  

[ad-ven-cher] / ædˈvɛn tʃər /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

Etymology

Origin of adventure

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; see advent, -ure

Explanation

An adventure is an exciting and probably risky trip, effort, or undertaking. Let's go explore the jungle! Don't be scared — it'll be an adventure! To a kid from the city, a ride on the subway is just another trip across town. To a kid from the suburbs, though, it can be a real adventure — a trip to a strange place with all sorts of strange people, new sights, and surprising twists and turns. If you've ever been to the Great Adventure amusement park, you know that the whole place is designed to make you feel as though you're on a wild, exciting, and thrilling trip — a great adventure. People often go on an adventure hoping something wonderful will come of it.

Example Sentences

In the trailer, the sisters must leave their homes on a mysterious adventure.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

It was a good night for episodic superhero adventure Dispatch, which was a surprise smash hit when it launched last year.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

After its Washingtonian adventure, Miller’s artillery battery was sent to Louisiana, where Miller fought in the Battle of New Orleans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Mr. Hemming has unearthed an adventure story that has escaped nearly all modern English-language sources.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

His mom always said that moving all the time—being nomads, she called it—was an adventure, and he went along with it, but really, he hated moving, hated starting a new school.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

Related Words

• experience
• exploit
• feat
• scene
• trip