intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

1
: to risk by gambling : wager
2

gamble

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: an act having an element of risk
b
: something chancy
2
: the playing of a game of chance for stakes

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025 Minnesota, with its defense under coordinator Brian Flores, is seemingly one of defenses best prepared for the Lions’ willingness to gamble. Andrew Greif, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
The extra size appears to be a calculated gamble by Fury. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024 This trade would be a potential gamble for the Nuggets but one that could possibly work out well. Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gamble 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably back-formation from gambler, perhaps alteration (by dissimilation, or substitution of the frequentative suffix -le) of early Modern English gamner "player in a game," from gamen "to play" (going back to Middle English gamenen, going back to Old English gamenian, derivative of gamen game entry 1) + -er -er entry 2

Noun

noun derivative of gamble entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1757, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of gamble was in 1757

Dictionary Entries Near gamble

Cite this Entry

“Gamble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamble. Accessed 12 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

gamble

1 of 2 verb
1
a
: to play a game for money or property
b
: to bet on an uncertain outcome
2
: to bet something on the chance of gain : take a chance
we gambled on not being seen
3

gamble

2 of 2 noun
1
: a risky undertaking
2
: a betting on a game of chance

Legal Definition

gambled; gambling

intransitive verb

: to risk something of value for the chance of winning a prize

transitive verb

: to risk (something) for the chance of winning a prize

More from Merriam-Webster on gamble

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