gamble

[ gam-buhl ]

/ ˈgæm bəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gamble ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), gam·bled, gam·bling.

to play at any game of chance for money or other stakes.

to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance: to gamble on a toss of the dice.

verb (used with object), gam·bled, gam·bling.

to lose or squander by betting (usually followed by away): He gambled all his hard-earned money away in one night.

to wager or risk (money or something else of value): to gamble one's freedom.

to take a chance on; venture; risk: I'm gambling that our new store will be a success.

noun

any matter or thing involving risk or hazardous uncertainty.

a venture in a game of chance for stakes, especially for high stakes.

Nearby words

gambian, gambian trypanosomiasis, gambier, gambier islands, gambit, gamble, gambler, gamblers' fallacy, gambling, gambling house, gamboge

Origin of gamble

1150–1200; Middle English gamenen to play (Old English gamenian), with substitution of -le for -en; see game¹

SYNONYMS FOR gamble

6 venture, hazard, speculation, flyer.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gamble ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

gam·bler, nounan·ti·gam·bling, adjectivenon·gam·bler, nounout·gam·ble, verb (used with object), out·gam·bled, out·gam·bling.

o·ver·gam·ble, verb (used with object), o·ver·gam·bled, o·ver·gam·bling.pro·gam·bling, adjectivere·gam·ble, verb, re·gam·bled, re·gam·bling.un·gam·bled, adjectiveun·gam·bling, adjective

Can be confused

gamble gambol

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gamble

But the decision now to sever economic ties with the eastern regions was a surprise—and a gamble.
Eastern Ukraine Braces for ‘Full-Scale War’|Jamie Dettmer|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unfortunately, that gamble was at the expense of Miss America's supposed mission.
The Real Housewives of Miss America|Kate Shindle|September 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Vincent teaches young Oliver how to fight bullies, how to gamble, what a hooker is––you know, the important things in life.
Meet Vincent McKenna, Your New Favorite Bill Murray Character|Alex Suskind|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While CBS is taking a gamble on a relatively unknown (and unproven) talent, to many critics this decision was all too predictable.
Late Night Adds Another White Dude: James Corden Replacing Craig Ferguson at ‘The Late Late Show’|Amy Zimmerman|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Plus, Procter & Gamble has already removed triclosan from its Crest toothpaste.
Antibacterial Soap’s Deadly Secret|Kent Sepkowitz|May 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You see, there was a guy in the crowd—or had been, rather, whose wife didn't want him to gamble.
The Forged Note|Oscar Micheaux
Was this the moment, I ask you, for his wicked old mother to gamble herself into disgrace and bankruptcy?
The Romance of His Life|Mary Cholmondeley
Who taught us to gamble with buttons—to play "odd or even," and lose our breakfasts and dinners?
Jewish Children|Sholem Naumovich Rabinovich
Or again, should she fascinate a du Tillet or a Nucingen, and gamble on the stock exchange to pay her creditors?
The Collection of Antiquities|Honore de Balzac
But there's excuses, and you can just gamble I'm the old boy who knows.
The Young Pitcher|Zane Grey

British Dictionary definitions for gamble

gamble

/ (ˈɡæmbəl) /

verb

(intr) to play games of chance to win money

to risk or bet (money) on the outcome of an event, sport, etc

(intr often foll by on) to act with the expectation ofto gamble on its being a sunny day

(often foll by away) to lose by or as if by betting; squander

noun

a risky act or venture

a bet, wager, or other risk or chance taken for possible monetary gain

Derived Forms

gambler, noungambling, noun

Word Origin for gamble

C18: probably variant of game 1

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