Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

adventure

[ad-ven-cher]
See more synonyms for adventure on Thesaurus.com
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.
Show More
verb (used with object), ad·ven·tured, ad·ven·tur·ing.
  1. to risk or hazard.
  2. to take the chance of; dare.
  3. to venture to say or utter: to adventure an opinion.
Show More
verb (used without object), ad·ven·tured, ad·ven·tur·ing.
  1. to take the risk involved.
  2. to venture; hazard.
Show More

Origin of adventure

1200–50; Middle English aventure < Anglo-French, Old French < Vulgar Latin *adventūra what must happen, feminine (orig. neuter plural) of Latin adventūrus future participle of advenīre to arrive; ad- ad- replacing a- a-5. See advent, -ure
Related formsad·ven·ture·ful, adjectiveun·ad·ven·tur·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for adventuring

Historical Examples

  • And yet much of the adventuring of life has been gained afoot.

    Journeys to Bagdad

    Charles S. Brooks

  • When we were adventuring in the remoter parts of the world, he was my companion-friend.

  • But so far, she added humorously, you and Gale have been doing all the adventuring.

  • In the reckless years of his adventuring he had more than once faced death.

    The Country Beyond

    James Oliver Curwood

  • Nevertheless, he could not help a shiver of repugnance to adventuring at such a risk.

British Dictionary definitions for adventuring

adventure

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
Show More
verb
  1. to take a risk or put at risk
  2. (intr foll by into, on, upon) to dare to go or enter (into a place, dangerous activity, etc)
  3. to dare to say (something)he adventured his opinion
Show More
Derived Formsadventureful, adjective

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for adventuring

adventure

v.

c.1300, "to risk the loss of," from adventure (n.). Meaning "to take a chance" is early 14c. Related: Adventured; adventuring.

Show More

adventure

n.

c.1200, auenture "that which happens by chance, fortune, luck," from Old French aventure (11c.) "chance, accident, occurrence, event, happening," from Latin adventura (res) "(a thing) about to happen," from adventurus, future participle of advenire "to come to, reach, arrive at," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + venire "to come" (see venue).

Meaning developed through "risk/danger" (a trial of one's chances), c.1300, and "perilous undertaking" (late 14c.) and thence to "a novel or exciting incident" (1560s). Earlier it also meant "a wonder, a miracle; accounts of marvelous things" (13c.). The -d- was restored 15c.-16c. Venture is a 15c. variant.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper