gamble

CEFRB2

/ˈɡæm.bəl/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To risk money or something valuable on an uncertain result.

  2. 02

    noun

    An attempt to gain something by taking a risk.

Examples

  • So you lost all your money? That'll teach you to gamble.

  • The company's gamble paid off.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. A risky venture.

  2. A significant risk, undertaken with a potential gain.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A bet or wager.

More examples

In context

  • You must not gamble at cards.

  • I had a gamble on the horses last weekend.

  • Mark won half a million dollars gambling on horses.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

He decided to blank his entire savings on a single horse race.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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.