gambling

1 of 2

noun

gam·​bling ˈgam-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce gambling (audio)
Synonyms of gamblingnext
: the practice or activity of betting : the practice of risking money or other stakes in a game or bet
illegal gambling
compulsive gambling
Then, within the past 18 months, after the explosion in Internet gambling … and the cable TV debut of the World Poker Tour, the game took off again.—Walter Kirn
—often used before another noun
a gambling game
gambling regulations
a gambling empire

gambling

2 of 2

present participle of gamble entry 1

Examples of gambling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Imprisoned since 2004 and serving a life sentence, Buchanan was accused of directing drug sales, extortion, gambling and violence across San Diego County and beyond. — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Ulrich's defense attorney argued the former commissioner was struggling with alcoholism and gambling and borrowed money from friends and others during that period. — Alice Gainer, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 The state says the prediction market website is operating illegally due to Utah's constitutional ban on gambling. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026 To be sure, odds and gambling platforms do not use methodologies used by traditional political polling, and therefore are not substitutes for political polls. — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gambling

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1700, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gambling was in 1700

Phrases Containing gambling

Rhymes for gambling

See All Rhymes for gambling

Browse Nearby Words

gambler
gambling
gambling device
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gambling. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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