gambling

noun

gam·​bling ˈgam-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce gambling (audio)
Synonyms of gamblingnext
: 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.
He was released on $600,000 bond, surrendered his passport and was ordered to limit his travel to New York and Ohio, refrain from gambling and submit to GPS monitoring. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026 While the prediction market apps initially focused on making predictions on political events like elections, the companies have rapidly expanded into sports, providing new avenues for making wagers in states that ban or heavily restrict sports gambling. Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026 This year, some criminals are creating fake websites that mimic actual gambling platforms, such as FanDuel and DraftKings — often with startling accuracy, according to the Joint Economic Committee. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026 The ball nestling into the net was greeted with the unique mix of cheers and groans in Viejas Arena that, to the gambling crowd, can mean only one thing. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026 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 6 Feb. 2026.

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