jeopardize
Americanverb (used with object)
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jeopardizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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jeopardized,
past participle, past
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jeopardizing
present participle
verb
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to risk; hazard
he jeopardized his job by being persistently unpunctual
-
to put in danger; imperil
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
jeopardizesimple
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jeopardizessimple
-
have jeopardizedperfect
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has jeopardizedperfect
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am jeopardizingprogressive
-
are jeopardizingprogressive
-
is jeopardizingprogressive
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have been jeopardizingperfect progressive
-
has been jeopardizingperfect progressive
Past
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jeopardizedsimple
-
had jeopardizedperfect
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was jeopardizingprogressive
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were jeopardizingprogressive
-
had been jeopardizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of jeopardize
First recorded in 1640–50; jeopard(y) + -ize
Explanation
Jeopardize means to put at risk or pose a threat. Jeopardize your career by posting silly pictures of yourself on Facebook. Jeopardize your friendships by posting silly pictures of your friends on Facebook. Jeopardize stems from the Old French jeu parti, which literally translates to a game with divided, or even, chances. An even chance of winning hardly seems a risky endeavor, but maybe our forefathers weren't big risk-takers. Whatever the reason, jeopardize has come to mean the act of putting yourself or something at risk, through circumstance or behavior. Think of double-jeopardy on the gameshow "Jeopardy" and you'll better understand what it means to jeopardize your savings.
Vocabulary lists containing jeopardize
100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
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The Last Olympian
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This Week In Words: May 3–9, 2020
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“What we were trying to do would not jeopardize the safety of anyone — not even in Memphis, but much less the rest of the population of Tennessee.”
From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026
Angel City sporting director Mark Parsons is taking his time searching for a new coach in a strategy that could jeopardize the team’s playoff chances.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Cornell said suspending him would jeopardize his student visa, the documents show.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
But if the conversation about the ad continues throughout the golf season, it could jeopardize brand perception and partnerships in the sport.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
“He knows enough not to do anything to jeopardize his being a student here. You got here because of your brains. Drew is here because I made it happen.”
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
“We are prepared to intervene in the foreign-exchange market to counter a rapid and excessive appreciation of the Swiss franc, which jeopardizes price stability in Switzerland,” the bank said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026
“It threatens the livelihoods of the people who live and work here, undermines the region’s fragile ecosystems, and jeopardizes the long-term health of our state’s water infrastructure.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2025
As the nonprofit’s executive director, Aimee Huber, has pointed out, the subpoena is a threat to its First Amendment freedoms and jeopardizes its “ability to carry out its religious mission.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025
“These are our anchors. This is our cultural heritage. Eliminating this funding jeopardizes the ability of communities to preserve their history,” Stein said.
From Slate ● Apr. 10, 2025
We ought never excuse violence or tolerate behavior that jeopardizes the safety and security of others.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
The government injected billions into banks, insurance giant AIG and the automobile industry to prevent the collapse of individual companies that would have jeopardized the economy and the financial system writ large if they failed.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
Crowley, her attorneys say, revealed to the public that “budget cuts had weakened the department’s readiness and jeopardized public and firefighter safety.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
"Do not approach the Strait of Hormuz; otherwise, your security will be jeopardized," Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
S. relations and jeopardized Adani’s investment in the U.S., and that they exceeded the reach of U.S. laws, according to records reviewed by the Journal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
I said, “Now, look, you have jeopardized our supplies. You are not going to have any tobacco or sandwiches tonight. You have almost lost us these privileges. So we’re cutting you off until you improve.”
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
But so many back-to-back ignitions are jeopardizing the ecosystem’s long-term viability — and making it even more fire-prone as invasive plants squeeze out native species.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Cordova said via email that the hearing was also to determine if the Murphy drill site is jeopardizing public health or safety.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
“That meant the plan had to support a front-loaded retirement lifestyle without jeopardizing the younger spouse’s long-term security,” said Huey.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
“It’s all definitely surreal,” the kicker said on condition of anonymity to avoid jeopardizing his contract.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
Unselfishly jeopardizing her professional reputation as a teacher, Aunt Anne always allowed each of us to play in the annual recitals at her music school.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
