gambled

verb

past tense of gamble
as in bet
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event a foolish man who gambled his life savings on the lottery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of gambled Rather than finishing the ambitious project, Rinsch gambled much of the money in the cryptocurrency market before spending millions more on luxury purchases. — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 29 June 2026 Growers tore out the dependable whites that had made their name and gambled, vineyard by vineyard, on a harder, less forgiving grape. — Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 Brendan Sorsby gambled on his own team to win a football game. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026 The company would have simply gambled on the wrong player. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 May 2026 Suarez wisely gambled on there being another downpour, taking only two tires when the rest of the leaders took four on a late pit stop with about 50 laps to go. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2026 In what would turn out to be the most pivotal decision of the Lakers’ season, Dončić and Reaves gambled — a bet that would cost Dončić the remainder of the season and playoffs, and Reaves all but the end of the playoffs. — Dan Woike, New York Times, 12 May 2026 Even the late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs gambled his own security for success. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 May 2026 Washington gambled that losing some to inoculation was better than losing a war to the virus. — Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambled
  1. bet
  2. put
  3. wagered
  4. played
Verb
  • Trace Finance, which is launching its own Brazilian real stablecoin, is betting on a structural gap in the currency itself.
    — Aaron Stanley, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • The next teams on the betting board are Germany, Brazil and Argentina, all at +1100.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of bet
Verb
  • But prices at the pump began to climb again after Iran resumed attacks on ships trying to exit the strait and after the US retaliated and put a blockade on Iranian ports.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Having said his piece, Armand puts a pen and paper in Louis’s headless hand.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
Definition of put
Verb
  • Sorsby wagered more than $90,000, and his gambling was flagged by law enforcement.
    — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • For instance, if that same sports bettor wagered $100 on Canada to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina (odds of -100), the bettor would have lost as the match ended in a draw.
    — Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of wagered
Verb
  • The bridge — which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario — was named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe who played for the Detroit Red Wings, symbolizing the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
  • Wallack’s critique was echoed by former Beach Commissioner Saul Gross, a real estate investor who has played a significant role in Art Deco district preservation and whose Streamline Properties is on Washington.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Definition of played

Browse Nearby Words

gamble
gambled
gambled (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Gambled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambled. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gambled

Nglish: Translation of gambled for Spanish Speakers

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