gambling

noun

gam·​bling ˈgam-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce gambling (audio)
: the practice or activity of betting : the practice of risking money or other stakes in a game or bet
illegal gambling
compulsive gambling
Then, within the past 18 months, after the explosion in Internet gambling … and the cable TV debut of the World Poker Tour, the game took off again.Walter Kirn
often used before another noun
a gambling game
gambling regulations
a gambling empire

Examples of gambling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025 Bateman's character, Vince Friedken, battles a gambling addiction in a trailer for the crime thriller, as Law's Jake Friedken celebrates the growing success of his buzzy establishment. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025 More Evan Bernstein/Getty Images Point guard Terry Rozier, who has only a partial guarantee on his contract for 2025-26, remains under federal investigation for suspicious gambling activity, per ESPN's David Purdum. Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025 Casual gamblers—those who aren't in the trade or business of gambling—must report and pay taxes on any winnings. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gambling

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gambling was in 1700

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gambling. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gambling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!