risk

[risk]

noun

1. exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance.

   It's not worth the risk.

   Synonyms: jeopardy, peril, venture

2. Insurance.

   1. the hazard or chance of loss.

   2. the degree of probability of such loss.

   3. the amount that the insurance company may lose.

   4. a person or thing with reference to the hazard involved in insuring him, her, or it.

   5. the type of loss, as life, fire, marine disaster, or earthquake, against which an insurance policy is drawn.

verb (used with object)

1. to expose to the chance of injury or loss; hazard.

   to risk one's life.

   Synonyms: jeopardize, endanger, imperil

2. to venture upon; take or run the chance of.

   to risk a fall in climbing;

   to risk a war.

   Synonyms: chance

risk

/ rɪsk /

noun

1. the possibility of incurring misfortune or loss; hazard

2. insurance

   1. chance of a loss or other event on which a claim may be filed

   2. the type of such an event, such as fire or theft

   3. the amount of the claim should such an event occur

   4. a person or thing considered with respect to the characteristics that may cause an insured event to occur

3. 1. vulnerable; likely to be lost or damaged

   2. social welfare vulnerable to personal damage, to the extent that a welfare agency might take protective responsibility

4. informal,  an expression of assent

5. to proceed in an action without regard to the possibility of danger involved in it

verb

1. to expose to danger or loss; hazard

2. to act in spite of the possibility of (injury or loss)

   to risk a fall in climbing

Other Word Forms

• risker noun
• riskless adjective
• unrisked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of risk¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from French risque, from Italian rischio, risco, of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of risk¹

C17: from French risque , from Italian risco , from rischiare to be in peril, from Greek rhiza cliff (from the hazards of sailing along rocky coasts)

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take / run a risk, to expose oneself to the chance of injury or loss; put oneself in danger; hazard; venture.

2. at risk,

   1. in a dangerous situation or status; in jeopardy.

      families at risk in the area of the weakened dam.

   2. under financial or legal obligation; held responsible.

      Are individual investors at risk for the debt part of the real estate venture?

More idioms and phrases containing risk

• at risk
• calculated risk
• run a risk

Example Sentences

Manager Thomas Tuchel says he does not want to take any risks with the 31-year-old, who arrived at the training camp with a "muscular issue" that has not improved.

From BBC

The owners eventually stopped maintaining potable water on the ranch, raising the risk of E. coli or other diseases, according to the lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times

However, traditional prescribed burns can require road closures for safety reasons, and fire crews typically only perform them in cooler, wetter conditions to limit the risk of a powerful, runaway fire.

From Los Angeles Times

"We have real concerns about the risk of people consuming potentially much more potent or more toxic substances than they might be expecting from consuming a herbal cannabis-based product," he added.

From BBC

It is one of the highest tariffs imposed by Washington and risks making the world's biggest economy less attractive for Brazilian exporters.

From BBC

Related Words

• danger 
• exposure 
• hazard 
• liability 
• opportunity 
• peril 
• possibility 
• prospect 
• uncertainty