adventurous

adventurous — adjective

1. ready to do unfamiliar, challenging, or slightly risky things because they seem

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

ready to do unfamiliar, challenging, or slightly risky things because they seem fun or worth trying

Example

Leah was adventurous enough to try fried insects at the night market.

adventurous enough to + verb

Our children grew more adventurous after a week of camping in the hills.

more adventurous after an experience

Common collocations
  • adventurous enough to try
  • more adventurous with food
  • adventurous spirit
  • adventurous choice
Synonyms
  • daring

    stronger and more dramatic; suggests bigger risks

  • bold

    often approving; can describe confident or surprising choices too

  • experimental

    best for food, art, or methods, not usually for a person's general character

Antonyms
  • cautious

    careful to avoid danger or mistakes

  • timid

    too easily frightened to try much

Grammar Patterns

be adventurous enough to + verb

adventurous about + noun

adventurous + noun

Usage Note

Common with people and with choices that show their attitude, such as food, clothes, travel plans, or design ideas. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense points to the person or choice that welcomes risk, not to the experience itself.

Common Mistakes

The road is adventurous.
The trip is adventurous.' / 'Mia is adventurous.
use sense 1 for a person's character or a choice that shows it, not for the road itself.

2. having a lot of action, surprise, and possible danger, so it feels like an adven

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

having a lot of action, surprise, and possible danger, so it feels like an adventure

Example

The brothers told us about their adventurous boat trip across the stormy lake.

adventurous + trip

Her first year as a mountain guide was adventurous and sometimes frightening.

be adventurous and + adjective

Common collocations
  • adventurous journey
  • adventurous life
  • adventurous story
  • adventurous holiday
Synonyms
  • exciting

    broader and weaker; does not always suggest danger

  • risky

    focuses on danger, with no positive sense of fun

  • thrilling

    stronger on excitement and emotional rush

Antonyms
  • safe

    free from serious danger

  • dull

    lacking excitement or surprise

Grammar Patterns

adventurous + trip/journey/life

be adventurous and + adjective

turn something into an adventurous + noun

Usage Note

Usually used for trips, sports, stories, jobs, and periods of life. Distinguish from sense 1, which names a willing attitude; this sense describes the event, activity, or story that brings risk and excitement.

Common Mistakes

Leo became adventurous after the stormy camp.
Leo is adventurous, and the camp was adventurous too.
this sense describes the experience itself; a person's character belongs to sense 1.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Adventurous' usually suggests someone enjoys trying unfamiliar things, or that a choice shows that open attitude. 'Daring' is stronger and more dramatic: it fits big risks, like climbing a dangerous wall or speaking against a powerful boss. 'Bold' often praises confidence or a surprising style choice, so it can describe clothes, colors, or plans without sounding as risk-heavy as 'daring'. 'Experimental' is narrower and is mostly used for food, art, design, or methods, not for a person's whole character. So we can say 'an adventurous eater', 'a daring rescue', 'a bold red jacket', and 'an experimental menu'.

adventurous ↗daring ↗bold ↗experimental ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • very adventurous
  • quite adventurous
  • rather adventurous
  • more adventurous

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

'Adventurous' was formed in English from 'adventure' plus the adjective ending '-ous'. 'Adventure' came through Old French 'aventure' from Latin 'adventura', meaning roughly 'what is about to happen'. From that idea of uncertain events, English developed 'adventurous' for people, journeys, and stories connected with risk, novelty, and unexpected experience.