gambled

past tense of gamble
as in bet
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event a foolish man who gambled his life savings on the lottery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gambled Rather than finishing the ambitious project, Rinsch gambled much of the money in the cryptocurrency market before spending millions more on luxury purchases. Antonio Ferme, Variety, 29 June 2026 Growers tore out the dependable whites that had made their name and gambled, vineyard by vineyard, on a harder, less forgiving grape. Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 Washington gambled that losing some to inoculation was better than losing a war to the virus. Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 24 June 2026 Brendan Sorsby gambled on his own team to win a football game. Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026 The company would have simply gambled on the wrong player. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 May 2026 Suarez wisely gambled on there being another downpour, taking only two tires when the rest of the leaders took four on a late pit stop with about 50 laps to go. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2026 In what would turn out to be the most pivotal decision of the Lakers’ season, Dončić and Reaves gambled — a bet that would cost Dončić the remainder of the season and playoffs, and Reaves all but the end of the playoffs. Dan Woike, New York Times, 12 May 2026 Even the late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs gambled his own security for success. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambled
Verb
  • Trump’s pressure campaign could not come at worse time for Cubans after their government seemed to have bet the island’s future on tourism and spent much of the last decade building new hotels –– which now sit vacant.
    Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Fertility companies are betting on artificial intelligence and other technologies to boost the chances of a successful IVF pregnancy.
    Edna Bonhomme, Scientific American, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • In his fifth-inning at-bat, Stephenson was on the other side of two successful challenges by Rutschman that put him down 1-2 in the count instead of up 3-0.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • Go on, put the 131-cube (2,147 cc) monster engine into that one.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • Sorsby wagered more than $90,000, and his gambling was flagged by law enforcement.
    Antonio Morales, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • For instance, if that same sports bettor wagered $100 on Canada to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina (odds of -100), the bettor would have lost as the match ended in a draw.
    Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • When Doncic played for the Dallas Mavericks and led them to the 2024 NBA Finals, his two centers — Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford — were exceptional in their roles as lob threats, blocking shots and rolling to the rim.
    Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The rivalry is so intense that overnight in Mexico, fans played instruments, sang, and made as much noise as possible outside the Ecuador team hotel to deprive the squad of sleep.
    Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gambled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambled. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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