a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
"drinking alcohol is a health hazard"
the probability of becoming infected given that exposure to an infectious agent has occurred
"After touching the contaminated surface, he calculated his risk of contracting the flu based on how much time had passed since cleaning."
the probability of being exposed to an infectious agent
"After sneezing near her, she realized there was a significant risk that he had already been exposed to the flu virus."
A possible adverse event or outcome
"The sudden storm added a significant risk of flooding to our travel plans."
In plain English: Risk is the chance that something bad might happen.
"Taking that shortcut is a big risk since the road is often slippery."
expose to a chance of loss or damage
"We risked losing a lot of money in this venture"
"Why risk your life?"
"She laid her job on the line when she told the boss that he was wrong"
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
"When you buy these stocks you are gambling"
To incur risk of (something).
"By skipping the safety inspection, he knowingly risked a catastrophic engine failure."
In plain English: To risk something means to put it in danger of being lost, hurt, or ruined by doing something bold or careless.
"Don't risk your safety by driving so fast in the rain."
Usage: Use this verb to indicate that an action exposes someone or something to potential danger, often followed by the preposition of. It is distinct from nouns like hazard because it emphasizes the active process of creating vulnerability rather than just identifying a threat.
A surname.
"The Risk family has owned the local bakery for three generations."
The word "risk" entered English in the 15th century via Middle French from Old Italian, where it originally meant a hazard or chance. This borrowed term eventually replaced the native Old English words pleoh (meaning risk) and plēon (to run risks).