money that is risked for possible monetary gain
"He decided to gamble his entire savings on a single horse race in hopes of doubling his wealth."
a risky act or venture
"Investing all his savings in unproven cryptocurrency was a reckless gamble that left him broke."
A bet or wager.
"He decided to gamble his entire savings on a single lottery ticket."
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
"When you buy these stocks you are gambling"
To take a risk, with the potential of a positive outcome.
"She decided to gamble her last savings on the startup, hoping it would become the next big success story."
In plain English: To gamble means to take a risky chance on something with nothing but luck deciding the outcome.
"Many people gamble on horse races for fun."
Usage: Use this verb when describing an action taken to achieve a goal despite significant uncertainty or danger, such as gambling your savings on a startup idea rather than just playing for money in a casino. It implies that you are risking something valuable specifically because there is a chance of gaining even more back.
A surname, from Old Norse.
"The local historian noted that the old estate was once owned by a prominent gambler before passing to his daughter."
The word "gamble" comes from the Middle English verb gamelen, which meant "to joke" or "to play." It is related to the Old English words for joy and sport, ultimately deriving from the root of the word "game."