gambling
6 synonyms for gambling, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The activity of betting money on games, sports, or other uncertain events, mixing skill and luck.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
wagering
punting
How to use gambling
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
gambling addiction
online gambling
gambling debt
Etymology
Formed from gamble + -ing.
Full origin of gambling →Frequently asked questions
What does “gambling” mean?
The word “gambling” means the activity of betting money on games, sports, or other uncertain events, mixing skill and luck. In plain terms, betting money on an uncertain outcome for a chance at winning more.
How do you pronounce “gambling”?
“Gambling” is pronounced GAM-bl-ihng (/ˈɡæm.bl̩.ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “gambling” in a sentence?
Here is “gambling” used in a sentence: “Online gambling has grown massively over the past decade.”
What part of speech is “gambling”?
“Gambling” is a noun.
Is “gambling” a common word?
“Gambling” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between gambling and betting?
Betting is the specific act of staking money on a particular outcome, such as a horse race or football match. Gambling is the broader activity of risking money on uncertain events, and it includes betting along with casino games, lotteries, and other forms of wagering. In everyday speech the two words often overlap.
What is the difference between gambling and gaming?
In modern everyday English, 'gaming' usually means playing video games. However, the gambling industry and many laws use 'gaming' as a formal term for regulated gambling, as in 'gaming licence' or 'gaming commission', so the intended meaning depends on context.
Is gambling based on skill or luck?
Gambling always involves chance, but the balance between skill and luck varies by form. Games such as poker and sports betting mix skill and luck, because knowledge and judgement affect results, while lotteries and slot machines are essentially pure luck.
Is it 'gambling' or 'gambolling'?
They are different words that sound alike. 'Gambling' means betting money on games or other uncertain events, while 'gambolling' (from the verb gambol) means leaping or running about playfully, as lambs do in spring.
