adventure
Americannoun
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adventures
plural
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an exciting or very unusual experience.
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participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises.
the spirit of adventure.
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a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.
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a commercial or financial speculation of any kind; venture.
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Obsolete.
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peril; danger; risk.
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chance; fortune; luck.
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verb (used with object)
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to risk or hazard.
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to take the chance of; dare.
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to venture to say or utter.
to adventure an opinion.
verb (used without object)
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to take the risk involved.
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to venture; hazard.
noun
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a risky undertaking of unknown outcome
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an exciting or unexpected event or course of events
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a hazardous financial operation; commercial speculation
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obsolete
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danger or misadventure
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chance
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verb
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to take a risk or put at risk
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to dare to go or enter (into a place, dangerous activity, etc)
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to dare to say (something)
he adventured his opinion
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of adventure
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English aventure, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Vulgar Latin adventūra (unrecorded) “what must happen,” feminine (originally neuter plural) of Latin adventūrus future participle of advenīre “to arrive”; ad- ad- replacing a- a- 5; see advent, -ure
Explanation
An adventure is an exciting and probably risky trip, effort, or undertaking. Let's go explore the jungle! Don't be scared — it'll be an adventure! To a kid from the city, a ride on the subway is just another trip across town. To a kid from the suburbs, though, it can be a real adventure — a trip to a strange place with all sorts of strange people, new sights, and surprising twists and turns. If you've ever been to the Great Adventure amusement park, you know that the whole place is designed to make you feel as though you're on a wild, exciting, and thrilling trip — a great adventure. People often go on an adventure hoping something wonderful will come of it.
Vocabulary lists containing adventure
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Introduction to Fiction
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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:
He returned to PSV in 2023 and added two more consecutive Dutch league titles before embarking on his MLS adventure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
One of my favorite moments in their adventure shows Higgins finding his way to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026
I love traveling by myself because I can do a lot of activities, whether it’s spending a few hours at a museum or having an outdoor adventure.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
Spider-Man: Brand New Day marks Tom Holland's fourth standalone adventure as the protagonist and hero Peter Parker.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
After both meal and poem were consumed, the Incorrigibles said thank you very much, asked to be excused, cleared their dishes from the table, and set out in search of adventure.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Whisenant had frequently posted about his adventures across the Sierra Nevada, not only rock climbing but also skiing, biking and camping across the mountains, according to his Instagram page.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
WSJ | Buy Side: These duffels have you covered for everything from weekend trips to outdoor adventures, whether you’re traveling by plane, train or car.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
Adeyemi’s novels, inspired by West African mythology, follow the adventures of Zélie, played by Thuso Mbedu, on her quest to restore magic to the kingdom of Orïsha.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
At the start of the year Josh and Kelly were planning campervan adventures and trying for a baby but, with their life plans now on hold, the couple are determined to make memories every day.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
He had also entertained them with stories of his hunting adventures in the Dakota Territory and read adventure and nature books to them.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
Bruce: We were as basic as we could be, talking about something we’ve never fully adventured into, and rightly so.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2024
On the one hand, he tells us, the annals are haunted by “those who almost adventured, who almost achieved, but ultimately, for them, it proved to be too much.”
From New York Times ● Feb. 2, 2022
One seal even adventured under a picnic table near a cafe, the newspaper reported.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 30, 2019
As Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel, Carol has led the Avengers, adventured with the X-Men and saved the world over and over again.
From The Verge ● Sep. 19, 2018
George Marston, the official artist of the expedition, had adventured in the Antarctic with Shackleton, too.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
A self-described B-student, he spent his childhood adventuring in the wilderness near his hometown of Seattle, and as a kid had preferred skiing to YouTube.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
One of those characters is Silas, Sherlock’s adventuring father who doesn’t appear until the end of Episode 4.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 4, 2026
If biking with a cat or small dog is on someone’s bucket list, the brand’s pet carrier clicks right into the rear cargo rack for easy adventuring.
From Salon ● Nov. 20, 2025
Jones, an adventuring archaeologist, is seen with the hat early on in the movie where he and his companions jump from a crashing plane in an inflatable raft.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2024
“Stay here while the rest of you go adventuring? Not a chance!”
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
Definitions 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.
