adventure

[ ad-ven-cher ]

See synonyms for: adventure adventured adventures adventuring on Thesaurus.com

noun

an exciting or very unusual experience.
participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.

a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.
a commercial or financial speculation of any kind; venture.
Obsolete.
- peril; danger; risk.
- chance; fortune; luck.

verb (used with object),ad·ven·tured, ad·ven·tur·ing.

to risk or hazard.
to take the chance of; dare.

to venture to say or utter: to adventure an opinion.

verb (used without object),ad·ven·tured, ad·ven·tur·ing.

to take the risk involved.
to venture; hazard.

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

Other words from adventure

ad·ven·ture·ful, adjective
un·ad·ven·tur·ing, adjective

Words Nearby adventure

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use adventure in a sentence

And, like paddling, fishing is an ideal low-risk, pandemic-friendly adventure, as proper fishing etiquette already dictates you give other anglers plenty of space.
Three Family-Friendly Adventures to Try This Fall | Outside Editors | September 17, 2020 | Outside Online
He has stepped into that vacuum, coupling his adventures in Libya and Syria with a desire to wield influence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Erdogan Pitches Himself as Muslim World’s New Leader | Charu Kasturi | September 10, 2020 | Ozy
They recently started taking on adventure with Blackberry Mountain, a 5,200-acre property next to Great Smoky Mountains National Park that opened last February.
27 Epic Trips to Start Planning Now | The Editors | September 8, 2020 | Outside Online
Luckily, I had gear along that kept me cool, protected, and comfortable for the duration of the adventure.
The Gear You Need to Bring on a 225-Mile River Trip | Mitch Breton | September 6, 2020 | Outside Online
By prioritizing good design, we’re able to attract the design and culture traveler seeking new adventures in a familiar city.
Pre-pandemic, Kuala Lumpur’s hospitality scene was heating up with new design-forward boutique hotels | Rachel King | September 5, 2020 | Fortune

Marcel the elephant takes readers on a journey through his life, recounting his memories full of travel and adventure.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Blue Ivy in Your Life | Allison McNearney | November 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
By any measure, Burroughs ranks among the finest adventure story authors of modern times.
Can Tarzan of the Apes Survive in a Post-Colonial World? | Ted Gioia | November 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Now this one-month adventure has been turned into a documentary, fittingly titled Banksy Does New York, set to air Nov. 17 on HBO.
Catch Him If You Can: Reliving Banksy’s New York Invasion | Alex Suskind | November 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Thrust into a world of seemingly supernatural monsters, his adventure begins.
The Walking Dead’s Luke Skywalker: Rick Grimes Is the Perfect Modern-Day Mythical Hero | Regina Lizik | October 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The hero first enters a period known as separation, where he leaves his past and enters a new life of adventure.
The Walking Dead’s Luke Skywalker: Rick Grimes Is the Perfect Modern-Day Mythical Hero | Regina Lizik | October 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Its record is largely that of battles and sieges, of the brave adventure of discovery and the vexed slaughter of the nations.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen Leacock
He was mounted on a spirited horse and his manner showed he was ready for any kind of an adventure, no matter where it might lead.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. Dunn
Hitherto, I have not given the subject much consideration, but I turn over a new leaf from the date of this adventure.
Glances at Europe | Horace Greeley
The adventure had surprisingly followed upon the discovery that Alicia had been quite wrong.
Hilda Lessways | Arnold Bennett
A simple errand and promenade,--and yet she felt herself to be steeped in the romance of an adventure!
Hilda Lessways | Arnold Bennett

British Dictionary definitions for adventure

adventure

/ (ədˈvɛntʃə) /

noun

a risky undertaking of unknown outcome
an exciting or unexpected event or course of events

a hazardous financial operation; commercial speculation
obsolete
- danger or misadventure
- chance

verb

to take a risk or put at risk
(intr foll by into, on, upon) to dare to go or enter (into a place, dangerous activity, etc)

to dare to say (something): he adventured his opinion

Origin of adventure

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

Derived forms of adventure

adventureful, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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