gamble

1 of 2

verb

gam·​ble ˈgam-bəl 

gambled; gambling ˈgam-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to play a game for money or property

b

: to bet on an uncertain outcome

2

: to stake something on a contingency (see contingency sense 1) : take a chance

transitive verb

1

: to risk by gambling : wager

2

: venture, hazard

gambler

ˈgam-blər 

noun

gambler

2 of 2

noun

gam·​bler -blə(r) 

plural -s

: one that gambles: such as

a

: one that habitually plays games of chance for money : gamester

b

: one that for pay or other financial advantage provides the space and equipment needed to permit others to gamble

c

: one that takes risks

if a publisher doesn't want to be a gambler, he shouldn't be a publisher

—Publishers' Weekly

specifically : speculator

the … financial gamblers who now have all our livelihoods at their mercy

—G. B. Shaw

Synonyms of gamble

Verb

• bet
• put
• wager

Examples of gamble in a Sentence

Verb

He's been drinking and gambling heavily.

He would often gamble hundreds of dollars on a hand of poker.

The mayor is gambling with the city's future.

people who lost money gambling in the stock market

The mayor is gambling that the new policies will help rather than hurt the city.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Cattle farmers say they are being forced to gamble with the industry. —Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 4 June 2026

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. —Hali Smith june 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 June 2026

Like others, he is barred from gambling. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026

Brendan Sorsby has admitted to gambling on Indiana and Cincinnati basketball while enrolled at the two schools. —Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably back-formation from gambler, perhaps alteration (by dissimilation, or substitution of the frequentative suffix -le) of early Modern English gamner "player in a game," from gamen "to play" (going back to Middle English gamenen, going back to Old English gamenian, derivative of gamen game entry 1) + -er -er entry 2

Noun

probably alteration of obsolete English gamner, gamener, from obsolete English gamen, verb, to play (from Middle English gamenen, from Old English gamenian) + English -er; akin to Old Norse gamna to amuse; denominative from the root of Old English gamen game

First Known Use

Verb

1757, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1784, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gamble

• gamble away
• take a gamble

Rhymes for gamble

• amble
• bramble
• ramble
• scramble
• preamble

Kids Definition

gamble

1 of 2 verb

gam·​ble ˈgam-bəl 

gambled; gambling -b(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to play a game for money or property

b

: to bet on an uncertain outcome

2

: to bet something on the chance of gain : take a chance

we gambled on not being seen

3

: risk entry 2 sense 1, hazard

gambler

-blər 

noun

gamble

2 of 2 noun

1

: a risky undertaking

2

: a betting on a game of chance

Legal Definition

gamble

verb

gam·​ble ˈgam-bəl 

gambled; gambling

intransitive verb

: to risk something of value for the chance of winning a prize

transitive verb

: to risk (something) for the chance of winning a prize

gambler

-blər 

noun