risk

[ risk ]

/ rɪsk /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR risk ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance: It's not worth the risk.

Insurance.

the hazard or chance of loss.
the degree of probability of such loss.
the amount that the insurance company may lose.
a person or thing with reference to the hazard involved in insuring him, her, or it.
the type of loss, as life, fire, marine disaster, or earthquake, against which an insurance policy is drawn.

verb (used with object)

to expose to the chance of injury or loss; hazard: to risk one's life.

to venture upon; take or run the chance of: to risk a fall in climbing; to risk a war.

Nearby words

Idioms

at risk,

in a dangerous situation or status; in jeopardy: families at risk in the area of the weakened dam.
under financial or legal obligation; held responsible: Are individual investors at risk for the debt part of the real estate venture?

take/run a risk, to expose oneself to the chance of injury or loss; put oneself in danger; hazard; venture.

Origin of risk

1655–65; < French risque < Italian risc(hi)o, of obscure origin

SYNONYMS FOR risk

1. venture, peril, jeopardy. 3. imperil, endanger, jeopardize. 4. chance.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR risk ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsrisk·er, nounrisk·less, adjectiveun·risked, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for risk

Politicians who openly associated with Duke, or his hard-core associates, did so at their own risk.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Advanced maternal age dramatically increases the risk of maternal mortality as well as birth defects like Down Syndrome.
Men Will Someday Have Kids Without Women|Samantha Allen|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It denotes the person that puts on the badge, puts on the blue uniform, and goes into the streets to put their life at risk.
Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation|Michael Daly|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So perfect that we wonder if we should risk ruining it by asking for yet another take.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards|Kevin Fallon|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The more antibiotics are used inappropriately, the greater the risk of bacteria growing resistant to them.
Without Education, Antibiotic Resistance Will Be Our Greatest Health Crisis|Russell Saunders|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Was I brave enough to join the venture and risk the after-part?
The Haunts of Old Cockaigne|Alex Thompson
Snark would not run the risk of publicly smirching himself—for who would believe his protestations of innocency?
Garrison's Finish|W. B. M. Ferguson
He had made up his mind to sail the brig in and risk the hazards of shoal water.
Blackbeard: Buccaneer|Ralph D. Paine
Should he stay where he was, and not risk further movement till matters had settled down a little?
Under the Chinese Dragon|F. S. Brereton
He had been wrong in thinking men would not risk much for the sake of revenge.
The Girl From Keller's|Harold Bindloss

British Dictionary definitions for risk

risk

/ (rɪsk) /

noun

the possibility of incurring misfortune or loss; hazard

insurance

chance of a loss or other event on which a claim may be filed
the type of such an event, such as fire or theft
the amount of the claim should such an event occur
a person or thing considered with respect to the characteristics that may cause an insured event to occur

at risk

vulnerable; likely to be lost or damaged
social welfare vulnerable to personal damage, to the extent that a welfare agency might take protective responsibility

no risk Australian informal an expression of assent

take a risk or run a risk to proceed in an action without regard to the possibility of danger involved in it

verb (tr)

to expose to danger or loss; hazard

to act in spite of the possibility of (injury or loss)to risk a fall in climbing

Derived Formsrisker, noun

Word Origin for risk

C17: from French risque, from Italian risco, from rischiare to be in peril, from Greek rhiza cliff (from the hazards of sailing along rocky coasts)

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 risk

risk

1660s, risque, from French risque (16c.), from Italian risco, riscio (modern rischio), from riscare "run into danger," of uncertain origin. The anglicized spelling first recorded 1728. Spanish riesgo and German Risiko are Italian loan-words. With run (v.) from 1660s. Risk aversion is recorded from 1942; risk factor from 1906; risk management from 1963; risk taker from 1892.

risk

1680s, from risk (n.), or from French risquer, from Italian riscare, rischaire, from the noun. Related: Risked; risks; risking.

Medicine definitions for risk

risk

[ rĭsk ]

n.

The possibility of suffering a harmful event.

A factor or course involving uncertain danger, as with smoking or exposure to radiation.

Idioms and Phrases with risk

risk

In addition to the idiom beginning with risk

risk life and limb

also see:

at risk
calculated risk
run a risk

risk

noun

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of risk

Examples from the Web for risk

risk

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for risk

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