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
More than 70% of Connecticut’s undergraduate students have gambled, with 17% reporting it at a moderate level, according to a survey of 1,300 students at 30 higher education institutions across the state conducted by two UConn researchers.
—
Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
The Saints gambled by not making a single substitution until the final minute of the game, nearly becoming the first team since 1979 to play its starters all 40 minutes.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
The moves were a complete departure from last year, when the Rams wrongly gambled that a young and aggressive pass rush could offset their decision to not make a single upgrade to the secondary.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Gamblers Anonymous has reported young men showing up in droves across the country, and one survey found that nearly one-third of 11-year-old boys had gambled in the past year.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
In this race, Delray Mayor Tom Carney also gambled — and lost.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
Alerted to suspicious bets by its integrity partner, MLS opened an investigation and found that Jones and Yeboah had gambled extensively through 2024 and 2025, including on games they were actively involved in.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Between 17% and 30% had gambled online.
—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
Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
The Saints gambled by not making a single substitution until the final minute of the game, nearly becoming the first team since 1979 to play its starters all 40 minutes.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
The moves were a complete departure from last year, when the Rams wrongly gambled that a young and aggressive pass rush could offset their decision to not make a single upgrade to the secondary.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Gamblers Anonymous has reported young men showing up in droves across the country, and one survey found that nearly one-third of 11-year-old boys had gambled in the past year.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
In this race, Delray Mayor Tom Carney also gambled — and lost.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
Alerted to suspicious bets by its integrity partner, MLS opened an investigation and found that Jones and Yeboah had gambled extensively through 2024 and 2025, including on games they were actively involved in.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Between 17% and 30% had gambled online.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambled
Verb
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Now the venue is to be torn down later this year, the end to a destination just off the highway that was once full of televisions, betting counters and tables, and thick with the scent of afternoon and evening cocktails.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
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FanDuel is entering the space in a moment when prediction markets faceintense scrutiny over the risk of insider trading, along with larger ethical questions about the societal impact of letting people bet on elections or geopolitical conflicts.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Though the arrest took place in 2023, the case faced new scrutiny in March after a video of the altercation — showing her yelling, putting Mortensen in a headlock and throwing chairs at him while a child could be heard crying — was published by TMZ.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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To have that as something that will live in my memory is worth whatever mental or emotional friction exists in rising from the comfort of my bed and putting my feet down on the floor.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Large sums were wagered on the outcome of Oliver Cromwell’s second siege of Limerick and the date of the fall of Namur in the Nine Years’ War.—
Stuart Jeffries,
Air Mail,
4 Apr. 2026
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It’s estimated that $30 billion was wagered legally on NFL games in 2025.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Arthur would have looked very different had another actor played him, according to the filmmaker.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
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Suffice it to say that eventually the tale of childhood catches up with the adult Sasha (played by Amy Zimmer), a filmmaker, who attempts to make sense of her past and Jeremy’s fate by undertaking her own investigation, at several decades’ remove.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gambled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambled. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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