venture

1 of 2

verb

ven·​ture ˈven(t)-shər 

ventured; venturing ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

: to proceed especially in the face of danger

transitive verb

1

: to expose to hazard : risk, gamble

ventured a buck or two on the race

2

: to undertake the risks and dangers of : brave

ventured the stormy sea

3

: to offer at the risk of rebuff, rejection, or censure

venture an opinion

venturer

ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)rər 

noun

venture

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger

especially : a speculative business enterprise

b

: a venturesome act

2

: something (such as money or property) at stake in a speculative venture

3

obsolete : destiny, fortune, chance

Phrases

at a venture

: at random

a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king

—1 Kings 22:34 (King James Version)

Synonyms

Verb

• adventure
• compromise
• endanger
• gamble (with)
• hazard
• imperil
• jeopard
• jeopardize
• menace
• peril
• risk

Noun

• adventure
• chance
• crapshoot
• enterprise
• flier
• flyer
• flutter [chiefly British]
• gamble
• speculation
• throw

Examples of venture in a Sentence

Verb

We ventured out into the woods.

He nervously ventured out onto the ice.

The pups never ventured far from home.

The company is venturing into the computer software industry.

a writer venturing on a new project

The group's lead singer is now venturing on a solo career.

It's important to plan carefully before venturing on a long journey.

Noun

a venture into the unknown

their latest business venture failed big-time

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Leave yourself some extra time and distance if venturing out this morning! —CBS News, 15 Dec. 2024

This means anglerfish call the twilight zone home, regularly venturing even deeper into the midnight zone. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

Noun

The big picture: In a constrained venture market for growth-stage startups, debt offers an attractive option for profitable companies. —Ryan Lawler, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024

Elysian’s model follows the wider tech trend of venture studios, which spin up companies from scratch rather than attracting existing outfits. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English venteren, aphetic form of aventuren, auntren "to occur by chance, expose to risk, take a chance" — more at adventure entry 2

Noun

Middle English, aphetic form of aventure — more at adventure entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing venture

• at a venture
• venture capital

Kids Definition

venture

1 of 2 verb

ven·​ture ˈven-chər 

ventured; venturing ˈvench-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to expose to risk

ventured a dollar on the lottery

2

: to face the risks and dangers of

ventured the stormy sea

3

: to offer at the risk of being criticized

venture an opinion

venture to disagree

4

: to go ahead in spite of danger

ventured down the cliff

venturer

ˈvench-(ə)-rər 

noun

venture

2 of 2 noun

: an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger

especially : a speculative business enterprise

Legal Definition

venture

noun

ven·​ture

ˈven-chər

: an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger

especially : a speculative business enterprise see also joint venture