¹adventure

noun ad·ven·ture \əd-ˈven-chər\

: an exciting or dangerous experience

: danger or excitement

Full Definition of ADVENTURE

a : an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks

b : the encountering of risks <the spirit of adventure>

: an exciting or remarkable experience <an adventure in exotic dining>

: an enterprise involving financial risk

See adventure defined for English-language learners

See adventure defined for kids

Origin of ADVENTURE

Middle English aventure, chance, risk, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *adventura, from Latin adventus, past participle of advenire to arrive, from ad- + venire to come — more at come

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ADVENTURE

Synonyms: emprise, experience, exploit, gest (or geste), happening, time

Antonyms: sure thing

Rhymes with ADVENTURE

backbencher, debenture, front-bencher, indenture

²adventure

verb

ad·ven·turedad·ven·tur·ing\-ˈven-ch(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of ADVENTURE

transitive verb

: to expose to danger or loss : venture

: to venture upon : try

intransitive verb

: to proceed despite risk

: to take the risk

First Known Use of ADVENTURE

14th century

Related to ADVENTURE

Synonyms: endanger, compromise, gamble (with), hazard, imperil, jeopard, jeopardize, menace, peril, risk, venture

ADVENTURING Defined for Kids

adventure

noun ad·ven·ture \əd-ˈven-chər\

Definition of ADVENTURE for Kids

: an action that involves unknown dangers and risks <Even the good plans of wise wizards … go astray sometimes when you are off on dangerous adventures … — J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit>

: an unusual experience <The trip was quite an adventure.>