venture

[ ven-cher ]

noun

1. an undertaking involving uncertainty as to the outcome, especially a risky or dangerous one:

   a mountain-climbing venture.

2. a business enterprise or speculation in which something is risked in the hope of profit; a commercial or other speculation:

   Their newest venture allows you to order their products online.

3. the money, ship, cargo, merchandise, or the like, on which risk is taken in a business enterprise or speculation.
4. Obsolete. hazard or risk.

verb (used with object)

, ven·tured, ven·tur·ing.

1. to expose to hazard; risk:

   to venture one's fortune;

   to venture one's life.

   Synonyms: jeopardize, imperil, endanger

2. to take the risk of; brave the dangers of:

   to venture a voyage into space.

3. to undertake to express, as when opposition or resistance appears likely to follow; be bold enough; dare:

   I venture to say that you are behaving foolishly.

4. to take the risk of sending.

verb (used without object)

, ven·tured, ven·tur·ing.

1. to make or embark upon a venture; dare to enter or go:

   He ventured deep into the jungle.

2. to take a risk; dare; presume:

   to venture on an ambitious program of reform.

3. to invest venture capital.

adjective

1. of or relating to an investment or investments in new businesses:

   a venture fund.

venture

/ ˈvɛntʃə /

verb

1. tr to expose to danger; hazard

   he ventured his life

2. tr to brave the dangers of (something)

   I'll venture the seas

3. tr to dare (to do something)

   does he venture to object?

4. tr; may take a clause as object to express in spite of possible refutation or criticism

   I venture that he is not that honest

5. intr; often foll by out, forth, etc to embark on a possibly hazardous journey, undertaking, etc

   to venture forth upon the high seas

noun

1. an undertaking that is risky or of uncertain outcome
2. 1. a commercial undertaking characterized by risk of loss as well as opportunity for profit
   2. the merchandise, money, or other property placed at risk in such an undertaking
3. something hazarded or risked in an adventure; stake
4. archaic.
   chance or fortune
5. at a venture
   at a venture at random; by chance

Derived Forms

• ˈventurer, noun

Other Words From

• ventur·er noun
• pre·venture noun verb preventured preventuring
• un·ventured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of venture¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, shortened from aventure adventure

Word History and Origins

Origin of venture¹

C15: variant of aventure adventure

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at a venture, according to chance; at random:

   A successor was chosen at a venture.

More idioms and phrases containing venture

see nothing ventured, nothing gained .

Synonym Study

See dare.

Example Sentences

The platform is firmly an early-stage venture at the moment, but Curry has big ambitions he’s building toward.

From TechCrunch

Like many other countries, the UAE wants to capitalize on the rise of small-spacecraft development and “create new business ventures in space,” says Al Amiri.

From MIT Technology Review

Mosley ventured out with a mask and a new sense of wariness.

From Washington Post

Startups, funding and venture capital23andMe set to go public via a Virgin Group SPAC merger — The transaction is expected to result in 23andMe having around $984 million in cash available at close.

From TechCrunch

This kind of adaptation would have given animals an advantage as they ventured onto land.

From Popular-Science

I would venture to say that Advent is something America needs right now, religious or not.

From The Daily Beast

After 10 years, she decided to venture out on her own as an entrepreneur.

From The Daily Beast

Patterson secured the permission of the landowner to venture onto the property.

From The Daily Beast

Some critics of Frank Gehry would venture that he doesn't know the difference.

From The Daily Beast

Minnesotans like it that way: The memory of Jesse Venture looms large in many memories.

From The Daily Beast

However, they were not seen to venture far into the surrounding deciduous forest.

From Project Gutenberg

The Spanish troops did not care to venture past a block of buildings in which were the offices and stores of a British firm.

From Project Gutenberg

These stakes are gold only as yet, and no man's venture seems over five pounds.

From Project Gutenberg

I never dare venture over except as the guest of some more fortunate friend.

From Project Gutenberg

The duke expressed his surprise that his majesty should venture alone in so public a place.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dare
• operate