1 gam·ble
Pronounced:
/ˈgæmbəl/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
gam·bles; gam·bled; gam·blingMeaning:
1 [no obj] : to play a game in which you can win or lose money or possessions : to bet money or other valuable things ▪ I like to gamble. ▪ He's been drinking and gambling heavily. ▪ gambling at cards —often + on ▪ She likes to gamble on football games.
2 [+ obj] a : to risk losing (an amount of money) in a game or bet ▪ He would often gamble hundreds of dollars on a hand of poker. b : to risk losing (something valuable or important) in order to do or achieve something ▪ She gambled [=risked] everything she owned to start the business. —often + on ▪ The company is gambling [=betting, risking] everything on this strategy.
3 : to do something that could have the good result that you want or a bad result that you cannot control [no obj] ▪ The mayor is gambling with the city's future. ▪ people who lost money gambling in the stock market —often + on ▪ Many people are willing to gamble on the new treatment. [=are willing to try the new treatment because they hope it will help them] [+ obj] ▪ The mayor is gambling that the new policies will help rather than hurt the city.
gamble away [phrasal verb]
gamble away (something) or gamble (something) away : to lose (something, such as money) by gambling ▪ She gambled away her inheritance. ▪ gambling away the city's future
—gam·bler /ˈgæmblɚ/ noun plural gam·blers [count] ▪ The casino attracts many wealthy gamblers. ▪ a compulsive gambler
/ˈgæmblɚ/ noun plural gam·blers [count] ▪ The casino attracts many wealthy gamblers. ▪ a compulsive gambler