as in bet
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event
a foolish man who gambled his life savings on the lottery
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Recent Examples of gambled
The 2025 report, which used both online and phone survey methods, identified that between 61% and 74% of Pennsylvania adults had gambled at least once in the past year.
—
Gillian Russell, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
His father gambled in Monte Carlo and drove a Lamborghini Countach well into his 70s.
—Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
The scale of underage wagering is hard to measure, but a recent survey of 1,017 adolescent boys nationwide, found 36% gambled in the last year.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Cherfilus-McCormick, who holds a law degree but is not a practicing lawyer, gambled — and lost.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
Six months prior, Shane had never gambled a penny.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
The 2024 Boise High graduate gambled with her Olympic chances this year, skipping the fall World Cup calendar while serving as a starting defender on the Stanford women’s soccer team that reached the NCAA national title game.
—Idaho Statesman, 22 Jan. 2026
In 2014, MacNeil gambled $4 million on the company’s first Super Bowl ad.
—Monica Hunter-Hart, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Chelsea gambled on Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli, who were simply senior players at that point.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Gillian Russell, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
His father gambled in Monte Carlo and drove a Lamborghini Countach well into his 70s.
—Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
The scale of underage wagering is hard to measure, but a recent survey of 1,017 adolescent boys nationwide, found 36% gambled in the last year.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Cherfilus-McCormick, who holds a law degree but is not a practicing lawyer, gambled — and lost.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
Six months prior, Shane had never gambled a penny.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
The 2024 Boise High graduate gambled with her Olympic chances this year, skipping the fall World Cup calendar while serving as a starting defender on the Stanford women’s soccer team that reached the NCAA national title game.
—Idaho Statesman, 22 Jan. 2026
In 2014, MacNeil gambled $4 million on the company’s first Super Bowl ad.
—Monica Hunter-Hart, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Chelsea gambled on Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli, who were simply senior players at that point.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambled
Verb
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Saudi Aramco’s shares rose the most in more than two years as investors bet that the rise in oil prices could offset declines in exports, Bloomberg reported.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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Inflation fears have led traders to scale back expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next quarter-point rate cut to September, with some bond options traders betting the Fed may not cut rates at all this year.—
Marcus Wong,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lobbyist helped secure Downtown Plaza as the site for the new Kings arena, putting together a deal with real estate developers to purchase the site and later sell it for a significant profit.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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That idea was put forth way back in 1929 by Fritz Zwicky, the same Fritz Zwicky who coined the term supernova and was the first to theorize the existence of dark matter.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Shah wagered $3,001 which brought his final total to $11,001, Powers wagered $4,999 which brought his final total to $9,999 and Aiello wagered only $530 which brought his total to $17,930.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
6 Mar. 2026
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Former New Haven police Chief Karl Jacobson allegedly wagered more than $4 million on sports betting apps over the course of a year, losing nearly $215,000, according to the arrest warrant affidavit accusing him of embezzling police department funds.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Biel, who played so well in 2025 Charlotte FC brought him back on permanent transfer in 2026, received a pass from Ashley Westwood on a set play and fired a shot into the back of the net.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
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The two teams played their Class 6A Division ll girls state championship basketball game at the Alamodome in San Antonio on March 7, 2026.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gambled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambled. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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