gamble

verb

gam·ble | \ˈgam-bəl

gambled; gambling\ˈgam-b(ə-)liŋ

Definition of gamble

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : 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

gamble

noun

Definition of gamble (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : an act having an element of risk

b : something chancy

2 : the playing of a game of chance for stakes

Other Words from gamble Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about gamble

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Synonyms & Antonyms for gamble

Synonyms: Verb

bet, go, lay, play, put, stake, wager

Synonyms: Noun

adventure, chance, enterprise, flier (also flyer), speculation, throw, venture

Antonyms: Noun

sure thing

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.

Noun

Starting her own business was a gamble, but it paid off. She thought about starting her own business, but she decided it was too much of a gamble.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Fourteen other states have introduced sports-gambling legislation in recent sessions, according to an April report from Fitch. — chicagotribune.com, "Atlantic City gets lifeline as high court clears sports betting," 14 May 2018 There is speculation that California could legalize sports gambling soon now that the federal ban has been struck down, but there is still work to be done. — Khadrice Rollins, SI.com, "Is Sports Betting Legal in California Following Supreme Court Decision?," 14 May 2018 The court had no opinion about sports gambling itself or about any possible new ban on interstate sports gambling or on individuals who wager on sports. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Mixing sports and sports gambling is no game," 14 May 2018 Americans legally gambling on this weekend’s World Cup final and other athletic competitions primarily are doing so in person at a limited number of casinos. — Chris Kirkham, WSJ, "States Weigh Bets on Mobile Sports Gambling," 13 July 2018 And gambling industry lobbyists have been working hard in the state Legislature for the last few years to convince legislators that the time has come for the live racing requirement to come to its finish — permanently. — Anne Geggis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Florida's last harness racing track revels in decades of memories," 12 July 2018 Some, such as marijuana legalization, anti-gerrymandering efforts and gambling in casinos, were sparked by lawmakers' inaction or slow action. — Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati.com, "Dialysis to duels: Why Ohio keeps voting on odd, complicated ballot issues," 5 July 2018 Warhol refused, so Mr. Hughes stepped in and gambled his savings on the film. — Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, "The Great Interview Magazine Caper," 16 June 2018 In a separate decision released in November 2015, the Justice Department’s inspector general found that an ATF supervisor gambled while on duty and misused his government car and travel card. — Neil Weinberg, Bloomberg.com, "Federal Employees Face Hurdles Pursuing Sexual Harassment Claims," 13 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Cordova has also locked residencies from Solomun, Jamie Jones and Black Coffee, whose refined house and techno is a bold gamble for the Strip. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, "Billboard Dance Power Players 2018: The Managers, Live Leaders & Tastemakers Shaping the Genre," 23 Mar. 2018 The chance to live a dream life made the gamble seem worthwhile, and the district that includes Leilani has been the fastest-growing in the state. — James Burch, National Geographic, "Kilauea Photographers Aid Relief Effort in Hawaii Community," 12 May 2018 Jackson isn’t as fully formed and ready as Rosen, but is more of a dual threat, a bigger gamble with perhaps a higher ceiling. — Greg Cote, miamiherald, "Ready for a shock? Check out the pick for the Miami Dolphins | Miami Herald," 25 Apr. 2018 But the possible benefits — saving money and experiencing a destination like a local — are worth the gamble for some travelers. — Washington Post, "How to read between the lines of Airbnb listings," 21 Mar. 2018 One of Apple’s many gambles with the Mac Pro was that Thunderbolt ports will someday be used with external hardware to eliminate the need for some internal upgrades. — Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, "iMac Pro review: Working as intended," 16 Feb. 2018 Think of it as a consolation prize—even if the biggest gamble in consumer electronics crashes and burns, 3D is still well positioned to become the new state of the art for video games. — Erik Sofge, Popular Mechanics, "Why 3D Doesn't Work for TV, But Is Great for Gaming: Analysis," 11 Mar. 2010 His casting of non-professionals and first-timers is also a bold gamble that pays off. — Stephen Dalton, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Volcano': Film Review | Karlovy Vary 2018," 13 July 2018 Now the $350 billion Irving, Texas, company is returning to its old ways: big, disciplined spending on prospects that make money at low oil prices. The approach is a gamble in a new era of energy breakthroughs such as fracking and electric vehicles. — Bradley Olson, WSJ, "Exxon, Once a ‘Perfect Machine,’ Is Running Dry," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gamble.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for gamble

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