risk
/rɪsk/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪsk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrisk/ (ame, mw)
risk — noun
- risksingular
- risksplural
1. the chance that something harmful or unpleasant will happen — for example, the p
the chance that something harmful or unpleasant will happen — for example, the possibility of getting a disease, losing money, or being in an accident.
There is a high risk of flooding in coastal areas during the typhoon season.
high risk of + noun phrase
Smoking cigarettes greatly increases your risk of developing lung problems.
increase the risk of + gerund
The doctor explained all the possible risks and benefits of the surgery.
Regular exercise can help lower your risk of heart disease in later life.
Investors should carefully study the risks before putting money into any new business.
文法句型
risk of + noun/gerund
increase/reduce/lower the risk of + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Commonly used with premodifiers: high/low/great/serious/real risk. Followed by of + noun (risk of fire) or of + gerund (risk of losing everything). Do not use to + infinitive after risk in this sense.
常見錯誤
2. a person, thing, or situation that could cause harm, loss, or problems in the fu
a person, thing, or situation that could cause harm, loss, or problems in the future.
Old electrical wiring is a serious fire risk in older apartment buildings.
fire risk — context-noun modifier
The abandoned factory was considered a health risk by the local community.
health risk — context-noun modifier
Chemical spills from nearby farms pose a major risk to the river and its wildlife.
Airport security teams work hard to identify potential risks before they cause trouble.
Children who play near busy roads face a greater risk of accidents.
- protection
something that keeps harm away
- safeguard
a measure taken to prevent harm
文法句型
[context noun] + risk
risk + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used as the second element of a compound: fire risk, health risk, security risk, flood risk. The determiner (a, the) or modifier (serious, major) usually comes before the compound.
3. a situation in which someone or something is likely to be harmed, damaged, or lo
a situation in which someone or something is likely to be harmed, damaged, or lost.
The firefighter put his life at risk to save a family from a burning house.
put [someone/something] at risk
Astrid knew that continuing the climb in bad weather would put everyone at risk.
Patients with weak immune systems are at risk of catching serious infections.
The company's future is at risk unless new investors can be found very soon.
Rin refused to let her children play near the active construction site because their safety was at risk.
文法句型
at risk
put [someone/something] at risk
at risk of + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in prepositional phrase form: at risk, put at risk, place at risk. Can also appear as a compound adjective: at-risk youth, at-risk patients. The preposition at is fixed — never use in risk or under risk.
常見錯誤
4. the condition of accepting full legal or personal responsibility for any harm, l
the condition of accepting full legal or personal responsibility for any harm, loss, or damage that may occur.
The sign at the pool read: 'Swim at your own risk. No lifeguard on duty.'
at your own risk — disclaimer formula
Anyone who enters the abandoned building does so at their own risk.
Before signing the rental contract, Niran understood he was renting the property at his own risk.
Lending money to strangers without a written agreement is done at your own risk.
文法句型
at [one's] own risk
用法筆記
Exclusively used in the fixed formula at your own risk / at one's own risk, typically on warning signs, legal disclaimers, or contracts. Never modified by adjectives. Do not confuse with the STATE OF DANGER sense (at risk), which lacks own and does not imply legal responsibility.
常見錯誤
5. an action or decision taken even though it might lead to something bad — usually
an action or decision taken even though it might lead to something bad — usually because you hope the result will be positive.
Iris took a big risk by investing her savings in the new tech start-up company.
take a risk — collocation pattern
Ramón knew he might fail, but he was willing to take that risk anyway.
Starting your own business is a risk that many people are not willing to take.
The team ran the risk of getting lost by taking an unmapped desert route.
Mia accepted the risk of losing her savings when she invested in her friend's restaurant.
文法句型
take a risk
run the risk of + noun/gerund
face risks
用法筆記
Frequently collocates with take (take a risk) or run (run the risk of). Run the risk of is more common in British English than take the risk of. Both can be followed by of + gerund to name the potential bad outcome.
常見錯誤
risk — verb
- riskpresent simple I / you / we / they
- risks3rd person singular
- risking-ing form
- riskedpast simple
1. to choose to do something even though you know that it could have a bad or unwan
to choose to do something even though you know that it could have a bad or unwanted result — like being late, losing money, or failing at a task.
Adina risked being late for the meeting by taking a longer scenic route.
risk + gerund (being late)
Rachel risked missing her flight by stopping for coffee at the busy airport.
No one was willing to risk losing their job by complaining about the new policy.
The coach risked playing the youngest team member in the most important match.
The plan sounds dangerous, but we should risk it and see what happens.
- avoid
to stay away from something deliberately
- play it safe
to act cautiously and avoid risk
文法句型
risk + gerund
risk + noun phrase
risk it
用法筆記
Followed by a gerund (risk being late, risk losing everything) or a noun phrase (risk your money, risk it). Never use to + infinitive after risk. The pronoun it as object is common in informal contexts: 'I'll risk it.'
常見錯誤
2. to put something that matters to you — such as your life, health, reputation, or
to put something that matters to you — such as your life, health, reputation, or career — in a position where it could be harmed or lost.
Anjali refused to risk her reputation by lying to the board of directors.
risk + reputation — valuable object pattern
Renata would never risk her friendship with Nicholas over a small disagreement about money.
The company risked its entire future by investing too heavily in a single product line.
By driving home after drinking alcohol, you risk the safety of everyone on the road.
- jeopardize
more formal; suggests putting something serious at risk
- endanger
focuses on physical harm or safety
- compromise
weaker — suggests weakening rather than putting in immediate danger
文法句型
risk + [valuable thing]: life/reputation/future/career
用法筆記
The object must be something the subject values or depends on: life, health, reputation, career, future, friendship, safety, freedom. Contrast with the GAMBLE sense (v/1) — in v/1 the object is the bad outcome itself (risk losing), while in v/2 the object is the thing being endangered (risk your life).