gamble

[ gam-buhl ]
See synonyms for gamble on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),gam·bled, gam·bling.
  1. to play at any game of chance for money or other stakes.

  2. to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance: to gamble on a toss of the dice.

verb (used with object),gam·bled, gam·bling.
  1. to lose or squander by betting (usually followed by away): He gambled all his hard-earned money away in one night.

  2. to wager or risk (money or something else of value): to gamble one's freedom.

  1. to take a chance on; venture; risk: I'm gambling that our new store will be a success.

noun
  1. any matter or thing involving risk or hazardous uncertainty.

  2. a venture in a game of chance for stakes, especially for high stakes.

Origin of gamble

1
1150–1200; Middle English gamenen to play (Old English gamenian), with substitution of -le for -en;see game1

Other words for gamble

Other words from gamble

  • gambler, noun
  • an·ti·gam·bling, adjective
  • non·gam·bler, noun
  • outgamble, verb (used with object), out·gam·bled, out·gam·bling.
  • o·ver·gam·ble, verb (used with object), o·ver·gam·bled, o·ver·gam·bling.
  • pro·gam·bling, adjective
  • re·gam·ble, verb, re·gam·bled, re·gam·bling.
  • un·gam·bled, adjective
  • un·gam·bling, adjective

Words that may be confused with gamble

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gamble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gamble

gamble

/ (ˈɡæmbəl) /


verb
  1. (intr) to play games of chance to win money

  2. to risk or bet (money) on the outcome of an event, sport, etc

  1. (intr often foll by on) to act with the expectation of: to gamble on its being a sunny day

  2. (often foll by away) to lose by or as if by betting; squander

noun
  1. a risky act or venture

  2. a bet, wager, or other risk or chance taken for possible monetary gain

Origin of gamble

1
C18: probably variant of game 1

Derived forms of gamble

  • gambler, noun
  • gambling, noun

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