Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense gambles, present participle gambling, past tense, past participle gambled
1. countable noun
A gamble is a risky action or decision that you take in the hope of gaining money, success, or an advantage over other people.
Yesterday, he named his cabinet and took a big gamble in the process.
...the president's risky gamble in calling a referendum.
Synonyms: risk, chance, venture, lottery More Synonyms of gamble
2. verb
If you gambleon something, you take a risky action or decision in the hope of gaining money, success,or an advantage over other people.
Few firms will be willing to gamble on new products. [VERB + on]
They are not prepared to gamble their careers on this matter. [VERB noun + on]
Who wants to gamble with the life of a friend? [VERB + with]
Synonyms: take a chance, back, speculate, take the plunge More Synonyms of gamble
3. verb
If you gamble an amount of money, you bet it in a game such as cards or on the result of a race or competition. People who gamble usually do it frequently.
Most people visit Las Vegas to gamble their hard-earned money. [VERB noun]
John gambled heavily on the horses. [VERB + on]
He was gambling heavily, to the alarm of his family. [VERB]
He gambled away his family estate on a single throw of the dice. [V n with away]
Synonyms: bet, play, game, stake More Synonyms of gamble
More Synonyms of gamble
gamble in British English
(ˈɡæmbəl)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to play games of chance to win money
2.
to risk or bet (money) on the outcome of an event, sport, etc
3. (intransitive; often foll byon)
to act with the expectation of
to gamble on its being a sunny day
4. (often foll by away)
to lose by or as if by betting; squander
noun
5.
a risky act or venture
6.
a bet, wager, or other risk or chance taken for possible monetary gain
Derived forms
gambler (ˈgambler)
noun
gambling (ˈgambling)
noun
Word origin
C18: probably variant of game1
gamble in American English
(ˈgæmbəl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈgambled or ˈgambling
1.
to play games of chance for money or some other stake
2.
to take a risk in order to gain some advantage
verb transitive
3.
to risk in gambling; bet; wager
noun
4.
an act or undertaking involving risk of a loss
Idioms:
gamble away
Derived forms
gambler (ˈgambler) (ˈgæmblər)
noun
Word origin
prob. back-form. < obs. gamler, a gambler < gamel, to play (altered < ME gamen, to play < game, game1) + -er: akin to Ger dial. gammeln, to sport, make merry
Examples of 'gamble' in a sentence
gamble
Ministers are concerned by the growing number of people with a gambling problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He might as well take a gamble.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Macau is the only place in the country where casino gambling is legal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The regulator has been criticised because bookmakers that allow gambling with stolen money merely have to refund victims.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet potentially sacrificing your long-term health for a sport is a dangerous gamble to take.
The Sun (2017)
It is one thing to kick the establishment, quite another to take a gamble of such epic proportions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was a monster gamble that day, backed in to 4-1 favourite.
The Sun (2016)
The point at which a risk becomes a gamble is a subjective view.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was a big gamble selling the house to send me to an academy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
People want to gamble and technology allows many new forms of gambling.
The Sun (2007)
It is the only readily accessible form of gambling in a country where casinos are banned.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Come and watch mum and dad gamble away your college education!
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He denied that he had taken a gamble.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They are free to play and users do not gamble real money.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It would be a difficult day for somebody gambling with a aggressive athletic approach.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The law of gambling is that bets are only good ones if they pay.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But that is the problem with risky gambles.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some felt that the gamble on spending money was not worth taking.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Betting can be confused with gambling but betting to win is different.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You know a huge amount is resting on it and the new channel is taking a big gamble on you.
The Sun (2010)
But it is a big gamble.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
All politics involves risk, a gamble.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
So traders were free to gamble with other people 's money.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It cannot be smoked, drunk or gambled away.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Usually film-makers take gambles only in an artistic sense.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Like all forms of gambling, day trading was addictive.
John Cassidy DOT.CON (2001)
That is probably right, but it is a risky gamble.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
So if we understand more about how people gamble, we understand more about how people vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
A line exists between gambling and risk taking.
Christianity Today (2000)
It is at least comparatively straightforward to police gambling in this country, where betting is legal and therefore subject to scrutiny.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
gamble
British English: gamble /ˈɡæmbl/ VERB
If you gamble on something, you take a risk because you hope that something good will happen.
Few firms will be willing to gamble on new products.
They are not prepared to gamble their careers on this matter.
American English: gamble
Arabic: يُقامِرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: jogar jogo de azar
Chinese: 博采
Croatian: kockati
Czech: hazardovat
Danish: spille hasard
Dutch: gokken
European Spanish: jugar dinero
Finnish: pelata uhkapeliä
French: jouer argent
German: um Geld spielen
Greek: ποντάρω
Italian: giocare d’azzardo
Japanese: 賭け事をする
Korean: 도박을 하다
Norwegian: gamble
Polish: uprawiać hazard
European Portuguese: jogar jogo de azar
Romanian: a paria
Russian: играть в азартные игры
Latin American Spanish: jugar
Swedish: spela
Thai: เล่นพนัน
Turkish: kumar oynamak
Ukrainian: вести ризиковану гру
Vietnamese: đánh bạc
British English: gamble NOUN
A gamble is a risky action or decision that you take in the hope of gaining money, success, or an advantage over other people.
Yesterday, he named his cabinet and took a big gamble in the process.
American English: gamble
Brazilian Portuguese: aposta
Chinese: 冒险
European Spanish: riesgo
French: pari
German: Risiko
Italian: rischio calcolato
Japanese: 賭け事
Korean: 도박
European Portuguese: aposta
Latin American Spanish: riesgo
Chinese translation of 'gamble'
gamble
(ˈɡæmbl)
vi
(= bet) 赌(賭)博 (dǔbó)
(= take a risk) 投机(機) (tóujī)
vt
[money]赌(賭) (dǔ)
n(c)
(= risk) 冒险(險) (màoxiǎn) (次, cì)
to gamble on sth对(對)某事打赌(賭) (duì mǒushì dǎdǔ) [horses, race]对(對)某物下赌(賭)注 (duì mǒuwù xià dǔzhù) [success, outcome]对(對)某事冒险(險) (duì mǒushì màoxiǎn)
to take a gamble冒险(險)行事 (màoxiǎn xíngshì)
1 (noun)
Definition
a risky act or venture
the President's risky gamble in calling an election
Synonyms
risk
This was one risk that paid off.
chance
I certainly think it's worth taking a chance.
venture
a Russian-American joint venture
lottery
Which judges are assigned to a case is always a bit of a lottery.
speculation
speculation on the Stock Exchange
uncertainty
The magazine ignores all the uncertainties students currently face.
leap in the dark
Opposites
certainty
,
safe bet
,
foregone conclusion
,
sure thing
,
banker
2 (noun)
Definition
a bet or wager
My father-in-law likes a drink and the odd gamble.
Synonyms
bet
He made a 30 mile trip to the casino to place a bet.
flutter (informal)
I had a flutter on five horses.
punt mainly British)
I like to take the odd punt on the stock exchange.
wager
punters placing wagers on the day's racing
1 (verb)
Definition
to act with the expectation of
Few firms will be prepared to gamble on new products.
Synonyms
take a chance
back
speculate
They speculated in property whose value has now dropped.
take the plunge
stick your neck out (informal)
put your faith or trust in
2 (verb)
Definition
to risk or bet (something) on the outcome of an event or sport
Are you prepared to gamble your career on this matter?
Synonyms
risk
She risked her life to help a woman.
chance
No sniper would chance a shot from amongst that crowd.
stake
He has staked his reputation on the outcome.
venture
hazard
wager
People had wagered a good deal of money on his winning the championship.
3 (verb)
Definition
to risk or bet (something) on the outcome of an event or sport
I occasionally gambled on the horses.
Synonyms
bet
I bet on a horse called Premonition.
play
a skilful investor who knew how to play the market
game
stake
speculate
back
It is upsetting to discover that you have backed a loser.
punt mainly British)
He punted the lot on Little Nell in the third race.
wager
put money on
have a flutter (informal)
try your luck
put your shirt on
lay or make a bet
Additional synonyms
in the sense of back
Definition
to bet on the success of
It is upsetting to discover that you have backed a loser.
Synonyms
gamble on,
bet (money) on,
speculate on,
punt on (British),
put money on,
take a risk on,
put your shirt on,
stake money on,
chance money on,
wager money on,
pledge money on,
venture money on
in the sense of chance
Definition
a risk or gamble
I certainly think it's worth taking a chance.
Synonyms
risk,
speculation,
gamble,
hazard
in the sense of chance
Definition
to risk or hazard
No sniper would chance a shot from amongst that crowd.
Synonyms
risk,
try,
stake,
venture,
gamble,
hazard,
wager
Synonyms of 'gamble'
gamble
Explore 'gamble' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flutter
Definition
a modest bet
I had a flutter on five horses.
Synonyms
bet,
gamble,
punt (British),
wager
in the sense of hazard
Synonyms
gamble,
chance,
risk,
stake,
dare
in the sense of lottery
Definition
a venture whose outcome is a matter of luck
Which judges are assigned to a case is always a bit of a lottery.
Synonyms
gamble,
chance,
risk,
venture,
hazard,
toss-up (informal)
in the sense of play
Definition
to gamble
a skilful investor who knew how to play the market
Synonyms
gamble,
take,
chance,
risk,
bet,
hazard,
speculate,
punt (British),
wager
in the sense of punt
Definition
a gamble or bet, esp. against the bank, such as in roulette
I like to take the odd punt on the stock exchange.
Synonyms
bet,
stake,
gamble,
wager
in the sense of punt
Definition
to gamble or bet
He punted the lot on Little Nell in the third race.
Synonyms
bet,
back,
stake,
gamble,
lay,
wager
in the sense of speculate
Definition
to buy securities or property in the hope of selling them at a profit
They speculated in property whose value has now dropped.
Synonyms
gamble,
risk,
venture,
hazard,
have a flutter (informal),
take a chance with,
play the market
in the sense of speculation
speculation on the Stock Exchange
Synonyms
gamble,
risk,
gambling,
hazard
in the sense of stake
Definition
to risk (something, such as money) on a result
He has staked his reputation on the outcome.
Synonyms
bet,
gamble,
wager,
chance,
risk,
venture,
hazard,
jeopardize,
imperil,
put on the line
in the sense of uncertainty
The magazine ignores all the uncertainties students currently face.
Synonyms
doubt,
confusion,
dilemma,
misgiving,
qualm,
bewilderment,
quandary,
puzzlement,
perplexity,
mystification
Additional synonyms
in the sense of venture
Definition
a project or activity that is risky or of uncertain outcome
a Russian-American joint venture
Synonyms
undertaking,
project,
enterprise,
chance,
campaign,
risk,
operation,
activity,
scheme,
task,
mission,
speculation,
gamble,
adventure,
exploit,
pursuit,
fling,
hazard,
crusade,
endeavour
in the sense of wager
Definition
a bet on the outcome of an event or activity
punters placing wagers on the day's racing
Synonyms
bet,
stake,
pledge,
gamble,
risk,
flutter (British, informal),
ante,
punt (British),
long shot,
venture
in the sense of wager
Definition
to bet (something, esp. money) on the outcome of an event or activity
People had wagered a good deal of money on his winning the championship.