noun / verb
gamble
GAM-buhl/ˈɡæmbl/
A stake risked on an uncertain outcome in hope of gain.
The player gambles a few coins on a die roll.
Etymology
Gamen, 'play or amusement,' underlies the suggested origins of gamble, though the word's exact formation is uncertain. The meaning focuses on play involving stakes: risking something valuable on a game of chance.
In context
At 25 you might gamble. You've got time to rebuild. At 45 or 50, you're not just betting with money. You're betting with the second half of your life.
More examples
- Her five-dollar gamble pays off when her horse wins.
- They never gamble more than they can afford to lose.
- Opening a restaurant is a gamble, even with careful planning.
Forms
gamble · gambles · gambled · gambling
gambler noun — Someone who risks money on uncertain outcomes.