Adventure — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /əd-ˈven-chər/ ad·ven·ture

Meaning & Definition of Adventure

Adventure (noun)

  1. an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks
  2. the encountering of risks
  3. an exciting or remarkable experience

Adventure (verb)

  1. to expose to danger or loss, venture
  2. to venture upon, try
  3. to proceed despite risk

Adventure (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an exciting or noteworthy event that one experiences firsthand

    "our quiet hike turned into quite an adventure when we encountered a bear and her cub"

    similar: emprise, experience, exploit, gest, happening, time
    related: escapade, lark, ploy, act, action, deed, doing, feat, episode, occasion, baptism, ordeal, test, trial, tribulation, enterprise, risk, venture, expedition, exploration, mission, performance, quest, stunt
    near: bore, bummer, bust, downer, drag

  2. a risky undertaking

    "a bold adventure in deep-sea exploration that could imperil the submarine and its crew"

    similar: chance, crapshoot, enterprise, flier, flutter (chiefly British), gamble, speculation, throw, venture
    related: bet, hazard, stake, wager, liberty, dark horse, long shot, play
    opposite: sure thing

Adventure (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to place in danger

    "adventured all his savings in a very risky investment scheme"

    similar: compromise, endanger, gamble (with), hazard, imperil, jeopard, jeopardize, menace, peril, risk, venture
    related: intimidate, threaten, expose, subject, chance, wager
    near: guard, protect, shelter, shield, preserve, resume, save

  2. to take a chance on

    "if I had to adventure a guess, I'd say she's about 35"

    similar: chance, gamble (on), hazard, risk, tempt, venture, run the risk of
    related: beard, brave, brazen, breast, challenge, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave, compromise, endanger, imperil, jeopardize, menace, expose, subject, bet (on), wager

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Adventure

The most common words with a similar meaning to Adventure:

Chiefly British: flutter
emprise, experience, exploit, gest, happening, time, chance, crapshoot, enterprise, flier, gamble, speculation, throw, venture, compromise, endanger, gamble (with), hazard, imperil, jeopard, jeopardize, menace, peril, risk, gamble (on), tempt, run the risk of

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Adventure

Words with the opposite meaning of Adventure:

sure thing

Related Words for Adventure

escapade, lark, ploy, act, action, deed, doing, feat, episode, occasion, baptism, ordeal, test, trial, tribulation, expedition, exploration, mission, performance, quest, stunt, bet, stake, wager, liberty, dark horse, long shot, play, intimidate, threaten

Near Antonyms of Adventure

bore, bummer, bust, downer, drag, guard, protect, shelter, shield, preserve, resume, save

Word Forms of Adventure

Inflections: adventured, adventuring

Origin & Etymology of Adventure

Middle English aventure, adventure (with -d- restored from Latin) "fortune, chance, occurrence, risk, enterprise, wonder," borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Vulgar Latin *adventūra "what will happen," going back to Latin, feminine singular (originally neuter plural) of adventūrus, future participle of advenīre "to arrive at, reach, arise, develop" advent

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Adventure

  • Topics: Travel, Sports & Entertainment

Words & Phrases Containing Adventure

adventure playground

Frequently Asked Questions about Adventure

What does "Adventure" mean?

"Adventure" means an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Adventure"?

Other words for "Adventure" include emprise, experience, exploit, gest, happening, time, chance and crapshoot. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Adventure" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Adventure"?

There are 71 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Adventure". Common alternatives include emprise, experience, exploit, gest, happening, time, chance, crapshoot, enterprise and flier.

What is the opposite of "Adventure"?

Antonyms of "Adventure" include sure thing. Near antonyms include bore, bummer, bust and downer.

How do you use "Adventure" in a sentence?

Examples of "Adventure" in a sentence: "our quiet hike turned into quite an adventure when we encountered a bear and her cub"; "a bold adventure in deep-sea exploration that could imperil the submarine and its crew"; "adventured all his savings in a very risky investment scheme".

Is "Adventure" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Adventure" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Adventure"?

"Adventure" is pronounced /əd-ˈven-chər/ and divided into syllables as ad·ven·ture.

What is the origin of the word "Adventure"?

"Adventure" comes from Middle English aventure, adventure (with -d- restored from Latin) "fortune, chance, occurrence, risk, enterprise, wonder," borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Vulgar Latin *adventūra "what will happen," going back to Latin, feminine singular (originally neuter plural) of adventūrus, future participle of advenīre "to arrive at, reach, arise, develop" advent. First known use: 14th century.