risk

American  

[risk] / rɪsk /

noun

1. exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance.

   It's not worth the risk.

   Synonyms:

   jeopardy, peril, venture

2. Insurance.

   1. the hazard or chance of loss.

   2. the degree of probability of such loss.

   3. the amount that the insurance company may lose.

   4. a person or thing with reference to the hazard involved in insuring him, her, or it.

   5. the type of loss, as life, fire, marine disaster, or earthquake, against which an insurance policy is drawn.

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verb (used with object)

1. to expose to the chance of injury or loss; hazard.

   to risk one's life.

   Synonyms:

   jeopardize, endanger, imperil

2. to venture upon; take or run the chance of.

   to risk a fall in climbing;

   to risk a war.

   Synonyms:

   chance

idioms

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

2. at risk,

   1. in a dangerous situation or status; in jeopardy.

      families at risk in the area of the weakened dam.

   2. under financial or legal obligation; held responsible.

      Are individual investors at risk for the debt part of the real estate venture?

risk British  

/ rɪsk /

noun

1. the possibility of incurring misfortune or loss; hazard

2. insurance

   1. chance of a loss or other event on which a claim may be filed

   2. the type of such an event, such as fire or theft

   3. the amount of the claim should such an event occur

   4. a person or thing considered with respect to the characteristics that may cause an insured event to occur

3. 1. vulnerable; likely to be lost or damaged

   2. social welfare vulnerable to personal damage, to the extent that a welfare agency might take protective responsibility

4. informal an expression of assent

5. to proceed in an action without regard to the possibility of danger involved in it

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verb

1. to expose to danger or loss; hazard

2. to act in spite of the possibility of (injury or loss)

   to risk a fall in climbing

risk More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing risk

• at risk
• calculated risk
• run a risk

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Other Word Forms

• risker noun
• riskless adjective
• unrisked adjective

Etymology

Origin of risk

First recorded in 1655–65; from French risque, from Italian rischio, risco, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Still, he stole a moment this past weekend to turn to social media for advice, admitting first to the “likely risk of sharing TMI.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

They said blockades were putting food, fuel, clean water and animal feed supplies at risk.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

So yields are higher but investors aren’t taking as much risk as they would with debt that would be considered deep junk.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

European leaders and the prime minister of Pakistan, which is brokering U.S.-Iran talks, warned that the operations could be putting the truce at risk.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

I sneak across, pee, then decide to risk slipping down to the kitchen—I polished off the granola bars last night.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• danger
• exposure
• hazard
• liability
• opportunity
• peril
• possibility
• prospect
• uncertainty