gambling

Definition of gamblingnext
present participle of gamble
as in betting
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 gambling Our findings fit with past lab studies that focus on gambling risks rather than physical ones. Lauren Sarringhaus, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026 Those include a new limit on the slot-win reporting threshold and reductions for gambling loss deductions. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 30 Dec. 2025 Republican leaders are gambling on a revival of the old isolationist vote to sweep them to victory in 1952. Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 Having swallowed sports media, will gambling now devour other kinds of news? Danny Funt, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gambling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambling
Verb
  • The Nairobi Securities Exchange is betting on mobile money platforms to attract more retail investors after ending a decade-long IPO drought, with leading telcos expected to soon roll out trading services on mobile money apps to widen access to capital markets.
    Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • The world's air forces and navies are betting heavily on combat drones in the near future.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The wagering platform hopes to attract people to betting who don’t already spend their days thinking about odds and spreads by relying on a decidedly different kind of spokesperson for its Super Bowl ad.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Most prediction markets offer similar-looking products to sportsbooks, but under federal oversight rather than state regulation, and there have been concerns about the integrity monitoring associated with wagering via these new platforms.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • That, and putting your people first, is what matters first and foremost; everything else follows after.
    Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Washington — Federal Reserve officials convene this week at a pivotal moment in the US central bank’s 112-year history, with a series of historic events putting a spotlight on their ability to set interest rates without political interference.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambling. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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