Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

gamble

/ˈɡæm.bəl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.79 in modern English

Syllables: gam-ble
IPA: /ˈɡæm.bəl/

11

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A bet or wager.

noun

A significant risk, undertaken with a potential gain.

noun

A risky venture.

verb

To take a risk, with the potential of a positive outcome.

verb

To play risky games, especially casino games, for monetary gain.

verb

To risk (something) for potential gain.

Transitive verb

verb

To interact with equipment at a casino.

name

A surname from Old Norse.

Example Sentences

"I had a gamble on the horses last weekend."
"The sailors had taken many gambles with the sea and always won."
"Mark won half a million dollars gambling on horses."
"He gambled his reputation on the outcome."

Etymology

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.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *gamlen, gamenen, gæmnian, -
Suffix: game

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈɡæm.bəl/
British English: /ˈɡæm.bəl/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

gambles (plural) gambal (alternative, obsolete) gambles (present, singular) gambling (participle, present) gambled (participle, past) gambled (past) Gammell (alternative) Gemmell (alternative)

Derived Forms

gambler gamblesome outgamble overgamble

Phrases

gamble-play Pascal's gamble take a gamble game of chance

Frequently Paired Words

game of chance

Synonyms

game chance risk hazard take chances adventure run a risk take a chance

Homonyms

gambol gambell

Rhymes With

campbell scramble preamble ramble bramble amble unscramble shamble tramble gambol hamble famble

Questions

How do you pronounce gamble?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɡæm.bəl/.
What does gamble mean?: A bet or wager.
Where does gamble come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce gamble

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “gamble”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɡæm.bəl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “gamble”.
Repeat and practice — Say “gamble” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.