to gamble
115
4.0
- verb
- /ˈɡæm.bəl/
- He decided to gamble on a new business venture even though the outcome was uncertain.
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Watch on YouTubeIt seems to me that we are gambling everything.
- It seems to me that we are gambling everything.
- So when I said, hey, you know what, I'm going to gamble my way into content creation.
- Even if you buy gold, you're gambling on the future of that.
- That's where everyone gambles on making the most sales third and fourth quarter.
- So some people in my shoes would have gambled like mad.
- Yes, you got potential to earn it, but you can't be gambling like this.
- It's hard to be really creative, you know, because you just, you don't want to gamble because we don't get to tweak and try and stuff.
- Two things to gamble your points, but both teams have to agree.
Examples
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You're gambling with our lives, but you're not gonna gamble with mine!
-
OK, I'm going to force you to take this gamble unless you pay me.
-
And will not take that gamble with the future of this country.
-
Two things to gamble your points, but both teams have to agree.
-
Do you really wanna gamble with her?
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Now it's time for you to gamble that my word is good.
Fiction book (1992) -
The issue is that you gamble everything, and nothing changes.
Fiction book (2001) -
We'll be gambling on the future of this country.
-
Some farmers plant in March, gambling on a frostless early spring.
Academic text (2004) -
The current crop of defense contractors is gambling that the War on Terror will last at least as long.
Academic text (2004)
Synonyms
957
3.0
To do something that may cause harm or lead to loss
412
3.8
Do something risky hoping to do well
326
3.2
Do things that might be dangerous to get something important
290
3.7
To risk money guessing which result will happen
136
3.3
To do something risky hoping for a good result
62
4.2
Risk money by betting to try to win more
42
5.3
To risk money or something valuable on the result of an event
29
4.4
To risk money on the result of a game or event
22
4.5
To risk doing something hoping for a good result
11
4.2
To do something risky hoping to get a good result
10
7.0
To invest money in stocks or property taking a risk to make money quickly
6
3.0
To do something that might lead to harm or loss
4
7.6
To bet money on the result of a sports event
4
8.5
To risk everything you own on one decision
4
5.1
To risk something important to try to gain something
3
8.5
To try something risky when the result is not certain
2
8.2
To risk everything you have on one choice
1
4.2
Try a risky action hoping it will work
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
How Risky
- Informal
2
8.2
115
4.0
957
3.0
136
3.3
- Specialized
401
1.0
Surface Forms
Etymology
Gamble comes from an old word for game, meaning 'play', and so it grew to mean taking a risk in hope of a good result. That is why to gamble can mean to risk something hoping things will turn out well.