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Definitions

gamble

[gam-buhl] / ˈgæm bəl /
NOUN
chance, speculation
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bet long shot venture wager
STRONG
action fling leap lottery raffle risk spec stab uncertainty
WEAK
outside chance shot in the dark throw of the dice toss up
Antonyms
STRONG
certainty sureness
WEAK
design guard insurance plan protection safeguard
VERB
take a chance on winning
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bet speculate wager
STRONG
back brave challenge dare defy endanger face game hazard imperil jeopardize lot play plunge put risk set stake venture
WEAK
buck the odds cast lots cut the cards flip the coin go for broke lay money on make a bet put faith in put trust in shoot the moon shoot the works stick one's neck out take a flyer tempt fortune trust to luck try one's luck
Antonyms
STRONG
ascend discourage displace dissuade hide remove rise save
WEAK
be careful design ensure guard insure plan safeguard

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Vachon was also the one who took Robitaille with the 171st pick, in the ninth round of the 12-round 1984 draft — and even then it was considered a gamble.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

But Meta is also waging a much bigger gamble, given Google’s lead in AI and Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg’s stated intentions to reach the milestone of “superintelligence” first.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

"We took a really big gamble," said Brenner, now a postdoc at Yale.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

Winning cures most ills, and there is a calculated gamble from Gould, Key and co that England have a good chance of success over the coming months.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

I didn’t have a ballroom or billiards or a back room to gamble money away.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

Vocabulary lists containing gamble

Excerpt from "A Raisin in the Sun"

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