venture

1 of 2

verb

ven·​ture ˈven(t)-shər 

ventured; venturing ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

: to proceed especially in the face of danger

transitive verb

1

: to expose to hazard : risk, gamble

ventured a buck or two on the race

2

: to undertake the risks and dangers of : brave

ventured the stormy sea

3

: to offer at the risk of rebuff, rejection, or censure

venture an opinion

venturer

ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)rər 

noun

venture

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger

especially : a speculative business enterprise

b

: a venturesome act

2

: something (such as money or property) at stake in a speculative venture

3

obsolete : destiny, fortune, chance

Phrases

at a venture

: at random

a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king

—1 Kings 22:34 (King James Version)

Synonyms

Verb

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

Noun

• adventure
• chance
• crapshoot
• enterprise
• flier
• flyer
• flutter [chiefly British]
• gamble
• speculation
• throw

Examples of venture in a Sentence

Verb

We ventured out into the woods.

He nervously ventured out onto the ice.

The pups never ventured far from home.

The company is venturing into the computer software industry.

a writer venturing on a new project

The group's lead singer is now venturing on a solo career.

It's important to plan carefully before venturing on a long journey.

Noun

a venture into the unknown

their latest business venture failed big-time

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The state has been a bastion of anti-Trump sentiment ever since the bombastic billionaire real estate tycoon first ventured into politics nearly a decade ago. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

Barr is a lawyer who first ventured into public service to help military families, after caring for her husband who served two tours in Iraq as a U.S. Marine and suffered combat injuries, according to her website. —Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024

Noun

Now the commission seeks to stop venture capitalist Vinod Khosla from turning coastal San Mateo County into his personal kingdom. —Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

The filing also details the company's investment in seven joint ventures, with a 40%-50% ownership interest, contributing $909,207 to net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English venteren, aphetic form of aventuren, auntren "to occur by chance, expose to risk, take a chance" — more at adventure entry 2

Noun

Middle English, aphetic form of aventure — more at adventure entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing venture

• at a venture
• venture capital

Kids Definition

venture

1 of 2 verb

ven·​ture ˈven-chər 

ventured; venturing ˈvench-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to expose to risk

ventured a dollar on the lottery

2

: to face the risks and dangers of

ventured the stormy sea

3

: to offer at the risk of being criticized

venture an opinion

venture to disagree

4

: to go ahead in spite of danger

ventured down the cliff

venturer

ˈvench-(ə)-rər 

noun

venture

2 of 2 noun

: an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger

especially : a speculative business enterprise

Legal Definition

venture

noun

ven·​ture

ˈven-chər

: an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger

especially : a speculative business enterprise see also joint venture