venture
B2Neutral to formal; common in business and literary contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A risky or daring journey, project, or investment.
To dare to do something or go somewhere, especially involving uncertainty or risk; to undertake an enterprise with a chance of loss or failure.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word inherently implies risk, uncertainty, and the potential for loss or failure. As a verb, it often carries the nuance of moving forward cautiously or with some hesitation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or form. The spelling and all related forms (venture, ventured) are identical.
Connotations
Slightly stronger business/investment connotation in American English.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American business English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
venture into somethingventure something (on something)venture that + clauseventure outVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a business enterprise, especially one involving considerable risk.
Academic
Used in economics and business studies; also in literature/history for explorations.
Everyday
Used for describing attempts at new activities or going to new places.
Technical
Specific term in finance ('venture capital').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I wouldn't venture an opinion without all the facts.
- They ventured into the dense forest at dawn.
American English
- He wouldn't venture a guess on the election outcome.
- She ventured outside without a coat.
adverb
British English
- None standard.
American English
- None standard.
adjective
British English
- The venture capital firm invested heavily.
- Their venture partner backed out.
American English
- He works in venture capital.
- The venture funding was secured.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- They started a new business venture.
- Don't venture too far from the path.
- The company's latest venture into the Asian market failed.
- I ventured to suggest a different plan.
- Securing venture capital is crucial for many tech startups.
- He ventured forth alone into the political debate.
- The joint venture between the two automotive giants reshaped the industry.
- Few historians would venture a definitive explanation for the empire's collapse.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a VENture as going into a VENture Capitalist's office for funding for a risky project.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/ACTION IS A JOURNEY (venture forth, venture into the unknown).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как 'авантюра' (авантюра = reckless adventure/scam).
- Не смешивать с 'adventure' (приключение) – venture более рискованное и часто коммерческое.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'venture' for a simple, safe plan.
- Confusing 'venture' (noun/verb) with 'adventure' (noun).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase best captures the core meaning of 'venture'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Venture' strongly implies financial or personal risk and uncertainty of outcome, often in business. 'Adventure' implies excitement, novelty, and exploration, often for pleasure, with less focus on potential loss.
No. While it implies risk, the outcome can be positive, neutral, or negative. The word itself is neutral, describing the nature of the undertaking.
Yes. Examples: 'He ventured into the cave.' or 'She ventured out into the storm.' It is often used with prepositions like 'into', 'out', 'forth'.
A joint venture is a business arrangement where two or more parties pool resources for a specific task or project, sharing the risks and rewards.
Collections
Part of a collection
Innovation
B2 · 46 words · Language of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
Explore