adventure

1 of 2

noun

ad·​ven·​ture əd-ˈven-chər 

1

a

: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks

a book recounting his many bold adventures

b

: the encountering of risks

the spirit of adventure

2

: an exciting or remarkable experience

an adventure in exotic dining

They were looking for adventure.

3

: an enterprise involving financial risk

wanted to pay off her debts before embarking on any new financial adventures

adventure

2 of 2

verb

adventured; adventuring əd-ˈven-ch(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to expose to danger or loss : venture

… those who adventured their persons and lives risked all they had for a slender reward.

—Joseph Conrad

2

: to venture upon (see venture entry 1 sense 2) : try

… the task was always one of great difficulty and art—so much so, that it could seldom be adventured in rough or windy weather.

—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

intransitive verb

1

: to proceed despite risk

… people going away to adventure upon the sea …

—Virginia Woolf

2

: to take the risk

… I would adventure for such merchandise

—William Shakespeare

Synonyms

Noun

• emprise
• experience
• exploit
• gest
• geste
• happening
• time

Verb

• compromise
• endanger
• gamble (with)
• hazard
• imperil
• jeopard
• jeopardize
• menace
• peril
• risk
• venture

Examples of adventure in a Sentence

Noun

The field trip was an adventure for the students.

He told us about his camping adventures.

They were looking for adventure.

Verb

adventured all his savings in a very risky investment scheme

if I had to adventure a guess, I'd say she's about 35

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Located on the picturesque shores of Leesville Lake in Carrollton, the camp has become synonymous with fun, adventure, and the development of lifelong skills. —Kody Boye, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024

But the area prides itself on its thirst for adventure and outdoor action, and the area surrounding Lake Annecy is an active traveler’s heaven. —Michael Venutolo-Mantovani, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Dec. 2024

Verb

Future adventuring The charging station will make off-roading in Rivians much easier. —Emme Hall, The Verge, 9 Dec. 2024

In the summer of 2024, a low-emission, low-impact tour company, the Ice Odyssey, took the prospect of adventuring up several notches by debuting trips to the Columbia Icefield, the largest in the Rocky Mountains. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English aventure, adventure (with -d- restored from Latin) "fortune, chance, occurrence, risk, enterprise, wonder," borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Vulgar Latin *adventūra "what will happen," going back to Latin, feminine singular (originally neuter plural) of adventūrus, future participle of advenīre "to arrive at, reach, arise, develop" — more at advent

Verb

alteration (with -d- restored from Latin) of Middle English aventuren, auntren "to happen, expose to risk, take a chance," borrowed from Anglo-French aventurer, verb derivative of aventure "chance, occurrence, risk" — more at adventure entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1529, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing adventure

• adventure playground

Kids Definition

adventure

1 of 2 noun

ad·​ven·​ture əd-ˈven-chər 

1

: an action involving unknown risks or dangers

2

: the encountering of risks

the spirit of adventure

3

: an unusual or exciting experience

the field trip was an adventure

adventure

2 of 2 verb

adventured; adventuring

-ˈvench-(ə-)riŋ

1

: risk entry 2 sense 1, venture

2

: to venture upon

explorers adventuring the wilderness