gambled; gambling
ˈgam-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to play a game for money or property
b
: to bet on an uncertain outcome
2
: to stake something on a contingency (see contingency sense 1) : take a chance
1
a
: an act having an element of risk
b
: something chancy
2
: the playing of a game of chance for stakes
Synonyms
Examples of gamble in a Sentence
Verb
He's been drinking and gambling heavily.
He would often gamble hundreds of dollars on a hand of poker.
The mayor is gambling with the city's future.
people who lost money gambling in the stock market
The mayor is gambling that the new policies will help rather than hurt the city.
Noun
Starting her own business was a gamble, but it paid off.
She thought about starting her own business, but she decided it was too much of a gamble.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Trump gambles with a late trip to Virginia Despite the recent controversy, the store was full of patrons on Friday stocking up on gear ahead of Trump’s rally in Salem on Saturday, a town less than 20 miles up the road from the store.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024
Adrian Blomfield, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Todd Graves’ high-risk funding strategy for Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers was a bold gamble that almost cost him his dream.
—Natalie Wu, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gamble 
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Verb
That likely won't win them many bidding wars, although other teams may be inclined to gamble against their long-term future given the uncertainty surrounding Antetokounmpo.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Trump gambles with a late trip to Virginia Despite the recent controversy, the store was full of patrons on Friday stocking up on gear ahead of Trump’s rally in Salem on Saturday, a town less than 20 miles up the road from the store.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
There is little doubt that Kagame’s sports strategy is an economic gamble.
—Adrian Blomfield, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Todd Graves’ high-risk funding strategy for Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers was a bold gamble that almost cost him his dream.
—Natalie Wu, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gamble
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Dictionary Entries Near gamble
Cite this Entry
“Gamble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamble. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gamble
2 of 2 noun1
: a risky undertaking
2
: a betting on a game of chance
Legal Definition
gamble
verb
gam·ble
ˈgam-bəl
gambled; gambling
: to risk something of value for the chance of winning a prize
: to risk (something) for the chance of winning a prize
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