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

“Garcelle straddles the perfect intersection between being accessible and aspirational,” says Lifetime movie executive Karen Kaufman Wilson, who has appeared on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” when cameras document Beauvais’ Hollywood ventures.

From Los Angeles Times

Over the past decade, the venture capital firm Atomico has tracked the evolution of Europe’s technology and start-up scene.

From New York Times

According to the plea agreement, Flores represented to Moore and others that Sawusch approved his use of the funds “because the victim had purportedly become an ‘investor’ in all of defendant Flores’ ventures.”

From Los Angeles Times

A comparable U.S. venture called EarthScope, a $200 million, 20-year-long effort to map the North American underworld that wrapped up field studies a few months ago, spaced seismometers 70 kilometers apart.

From Science Magazine

But they didn’t venture over to the right.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dare
• operate