gamble
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gamble¹
- /ˈɡæm.bəl/ UK, US
Sounds like gambol · Rhymes with -æmbəl
Where it comes from
From earlier gamel, from Middle English *gamlen, *gamelen, variant of Middle English gamenen, from Old English gæmnian, gamnian, gamenian (“to joke; play”), related to Old English gamen (“joy; mirth; pleasure; entertainment; pastime; sport; game”), equivalent to game + -le. Compare Old Danish gammel, Middle High German gamel (“pleasure; fun”). More at game.
noun gambles · gambal
- A bet or wager. I had a gamble on the horses last weekend.
- A significant risk, undertaken with a potential gain.
- A risky venture. The sailors had taken many gambles with the sea and always won.
verb gambles · gambling · gambled · gambal
- To take a risk, with the potential of a positive outcome.
-
To play risky games, especially casino games, for monetary gain.
Mark won half a million dollars gambling on horses.
Similar: game
- To risk (something) for potential gain. He gambled his reputation on the outcome.
- To interact with equipment at a casino.
Gamble²
Where it comes from
From the Old Norse byname gamall (“old”), which was occasionally used in North England during the Middle Ages as a personal name.
proper noun Gambles · Gammell · Gemmell
- A surname from Old Norse.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: adventure, risk, hazard, chance, take chances, wager, bet, betting, bookmaking, lottery, gaming, ante, challenge, venture, talk, stake
Translations
Every language
noun a risk undertaken with a potential gain
| 日本語 | 賭け kake, ギャンブル gyanburu |
|---|---|
| Português | aposta |
| Français | pari, jeu de hasard |
| Deutsch | Glücksspiel, Hazardspiel |
| Italiano | scommessa |
| Ελληνικά | στοίχημα stoíchima |
| Русский | аза́ртная игра́ azártnaja igrá, авантю́ра avantjúra |
| العربية | قِمَار qimār |
noun a risky venture
| Español | jugada riesgosa |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 賭け kake, ギャンブル gyanburu |
| Português | aposta |
| Deutsch | Glücksspiel |
| Русский | авантю́ра avantjúra |
verb to take a risk, with the potential of a positive outcome
| 日本語 | 賭ける kakeru |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 賭博 /赌博 dǔbó, 賭錢 /赌钱 dǔqián |
| Português | arriscar |
| Français | parier, hasarder |
| Deutsch | spielen, spekulieren, zocken, hasardieren |
| Italiano | scommettere |
| Ελληνικά | στοιχηματίζω stoichimatízo |
| Русский | рискова́ть riskovátʹ |
| العربية | قَامَرَ qāmara |
| עברית | הימר himér |
verb to play risky games for monetary gain
| Español | timbear, escolasear, escolasar |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 賭ける kakeru |
| 中文 | 賭博 /赌博 dǔbó, 賭錢 /赌钱 dǔqián |
| हिन्दी | जुआ खेलना juā khelnā |
| Português | apostar |
| Deutsch | wetten, spielen, zocken |
| Italiano | scommettere |
| Română | juca, juca jocuri de noroc |
| Русский | игра́ть в аза́ртные и́гры igrátʹ v azártnyje ígry |
| Tiếng Việt | đánh bạc |
| العربية | قَامَرَ qāmara |
| עברית | הימר himér |
verb ''(transitive)'' to risk something for potential gain
| 日本語 | 懸ける kakeru |
|---|---|
| Português | arriscar |
| Deutsch | aufs Spiel n setzen, hasardieren, wagen |
| Italiano | rischiare |
Talk about this word "gamble." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/gamble. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. gamble. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/gamble "gamble." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/gamble.Cite this
@misc{gamble_2026,
title = {gamble},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/gamble},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
