adventure
UK /ədˈven.tʃə/ US /ədˈven.tʃɚ/ Syllables: ad-ven-ture
Quick answer
An exciting or unusual experience, often involving some risk.
An adventure is an exciting or unusual experience, often with some risk or surprise. A trip to a new country, a night in a tent or a first time on a mountain can all be an adventure. The word also names stories about such journeys, such as an adventure book or an adventure film. A person who loves adventure likes to try new things and to go to new places. An adventurous person is brave and curious, and an adventurer is someone who looks for adventures.
"Climbing the mountain was the adventure of a lifetime."Meanings
- An exciting or unusual experience, often involving some risk.
- A story or film about exciting events.
Example sentences
-
"Climbing the mountain was the adventure of a lifetime."
Level A2, Meaning 1
-
"We went on a camping adventure last summer."
Level A1, Meaning 1
-
"She loves adventure books about pirates."
Level A1, Meaning 2
-
"A trip to a new city can be a real adventure."
Level A2, Meaning 1
Look-alikes and common mistakes
- journey : A journey is a trip from one place to another. An adventure is exciting and may be unplanned.
- experience : An experience is anything that happens to you. An adventure is a special, exciting one.
Word family and forms
Forms: adventures
Word partners
Words and phrases that often go with "adventure".
- go on an adventure
- an adventure story
- a sense of adventure
- a great adventure
- an outdoor adventure
- an adventure park
Origin
Adventure came into English in the 1200s from Old French aventure, which came from Latin adventura, meaning what is about to happen. The Latin word comes from the verb advenire, to arrive. So an adventure was first something that comes your way by chance.
Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.
How to remember it
Adventure has venture in it, like a venture into the unknown. Add ad at the start to go toward it.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "Climbing the mountain was the _____ of a lifetime."
Answer: adventure
In your own words, what does "adventure" mean?
An exciting or unusual experience, often involving some risk.
Learn next at A1
- advertisement A public notice or announcement, usually paid for, that promotes a pro...
- aerobics Physical exercise, often performed to music, intended to strengthen th...
- afraid Feeling fear or worry about something.
- after Following something in time or order.
- afternoon The part of the day between midday and evening.
- again One more time, once more.
Sources and credits
- Wiktionary, the free dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) · used for the origin · checked Oct 19, 2026
- Dictionary.com · used for the origin · checked Oct 19, 2026
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. Report a mistake on this page