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Definition of gamble noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

gamble

noun
 
/ˈɡæmbl/
 
/ˈɡæmbl/
 [singular]
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  1. an action that you take when you know there is a risk but when you hope that the result will be a success
    • She knew she was taking a gamble but decided it was worth it.
    • They invested money in the company right at the start and the gamble paid off (= brought them success).
    • It was the biggest gamble of his political career.
    Extra Examples
    • It was time for a last desperate gamble.
    • Trying to find the right pension can be a bit of a gamble.
    Topics Dangerc1, Moneyc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • enormous
    • great
    • …
    verb + gamble
    • take
    • lose
    gamble + verb
    • pay off
    • fail
    preposition
    • gamble on
    phrases
    • a bit of a gamble
    • something of a gamble
    See full entry
    Word Originearly 18th cent.: from obsolete gamel ‘play games’, or from the verb game.
See gamble in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: gamble

Nearby words

practical
adjective
 
 
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