venture

[ ven-cher ]

noun

1. an undertaking involving uncertainty as to the outcome, especially a risky or dangerous one:

   a mountain-climbing venture.

2. a business enterprise or speculation in which something is risked in the hope of profit; a commercial or other speculation:

   Their newest venture allows you to order their products online.

3. the money, ship, cargo, merchandise, or the like, on which risk is taken in a business enterprise or speculation.
4. Obsolete. hazard or risk.

verb (used with object)

, ven·tured, ven·tur·ing.

1. to expose to hazard; risk:

   to venture one's fortune;

   to venture one's life.

   Synonyms: jeopardize, imperil, endanger

2. to take the risk of; brave the dangers of:

   to venture a voyage into space.

3. to undertake to express, as when opposition or resistance appears likely to follow; be bold enough; dare:

   I venture to say that you are behaving foolishly.

4. to take the risk of sending.

verb (used without object)

, ven·tured, ven·tur·ing.

1. to make or embark upon a venture; dare to enter or go:

   He ventured deep into the jungle.

2. to take a risk; dare; presume:

   to venture on an ambitious program of reform.

3. to invest venture capital.

adjective

1. of or relating to an investment or investments in new businesses:

   a venture fund.

venture

/ ˈvɛntʃə /

verb

1. tr to expose to danger; hazard

   he ventured his life

2. tr to brave the dangers of (something)

   I'll venture the seas

3. tr to dare (to do something)

   does he venture to object?

4. tr; may take a clause as object to express in spite of possible refutation or criticism

   I venture that he is not that honest

5. intr; often foll by out, forth, etc to embark on a possibly hazardous journey, undertaking, etc

   to venture forth upon the high seas

noun

1. an undertaking that is risky or of uncertain outcome
2. 1. a commercial undertaking characterized by risk of loss as well as opportunity for profit
   2. the merchandise, money, or other property placed at risk in such an undertaking
3. something hazarded or risked in an adventure; stake
4. archaic.
   chance or fortune
5. at a venture
   at random; by chance

Derived Forms

• ˈventurer, noun

Other Words From

• ventur·er noun
• pre·venture noun verb preventured preventuring
• un·ventured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of venture¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, shortened from aventure adventure

Word History and Origins

Origin of venture¹

C15: variant of aventure adventure

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at a venture, according to chance; at random:

   A successor was chosen at a venture.

More idioms and phrases containing venture

see nothing ventured, nothing gained .

Synonym Study

See dare.

Example Sentences

If humankind’s uncharted venture into the hottest and most unpredictably chaotic environment in history was to be marked by a new era of global migration, how would never-ending pressure on the U.S. border weigh on the politics and divisions of this country?

From Salon

Neuralink, which has raised more than $600 million in venture capital, has developed an implant the size of a coin with tiny wires that record brain activity.

From Los Angeles Times

Taylor's worries are counteracted by career-high paydays for the female fighters on an event being broadcast on Netflix in the streaming giant's first venture into live boxing.

From BBC

Cryptocurrencies are headed to the moon, as Bitcoin’s all-time-high valuations shower blessings upon the broader virtual-asset sector, and as Trump’s own crypto venture promises to launch its own dollar-backed stablecoin.

From Slate

Donald Trump and his family just announced a big crypto venture.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dare
• operate