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
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Noun
Another revenue source may come from higher taxes on the gambling sector. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Beasley had previously borrowed money from Davis after accumulating millions of dollars in gambling losses. — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 There’s a good reason that nearly all states restrict people from gambling until the age of 21. — Amy L. Kennedy, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026 Beasley allegedly borrowed money from Ed Davis, a former teammate, after racking up millions of dollars in gambling losses. — Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 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 1 Nov. 2026.

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