- 1 [intransitive, transitive] to risk money on a card game, horse race, etc. gamble (at/on something) to gamble at cards to gamble on the horses gamble something (at/on something) I gambled all my winnings on the last race. See related entries: Equine sports
- 2 [transitive, intransitive] to risk losing something in the hope of being successful gamble something (on something) He's gambling his reputation on this deal. gamble with/on something It was wrong to gamble with our children's future. Word Originearly 18th cent.: from obsolete gamel ‘play games’, or from the verb game.Extra examples He gambled away the family fortune. She became depressed and began to gamble heavily. to gamble on the horses He doesn’t drink or gamble any more. He gambled his reputation on this deal. He had gambled all their money away. It was wrong to gamble with our children’s future. She gambled that he wouldn’t read it before she reached the airport. Phrasal Verbsgamble awaygamble on doing
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BrE BrE//ˈɡæmbl//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɡæmbl//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they gamble BrE BrE//ˈɡæmbl//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɡæmbl//
he / she / it gambles BrE BrE//ˈɡæmblz//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɡæmblz//
past simple gambled BrE BrE//ˈɡæmbld//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɡæmbld//
past participle gambled BrE BrE//ˈɡæmbld//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɡæmbld//
-ing form gambling BrE BrE//ˈɡæmblɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɡæmblɪŋ//
Equine sportsCheck pronunciation: gamble
