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risk
The word carries a tension between danger and opportunity. It is not merely about a negative outcome, but about the gamble of trading a current certainty for a potential future gain. This creates a psychological state of uncertainty and suspense. In professional or financial contexts, it is treated as a manageable variable to be mitigated or hedged. In personal or emotional contexts, it often implies courage or recklessness, depending on whether the outcome is viewed as a noble sacrifice or a foolish mistake.
Countable when referring to a specific dangerous action or a distinct hazard. Uncountable when referring to the general concept of danger or the probability of loss.
Meanings
To expose something to danger or the possibility of loss
"He risked his life to save the child"
To behave in a way that creates a possibility of danger
"He is always risking it by driving too fast"