v. 1
To incur risk of (an unwanted or negative outcome).
These people are putting themselves in danger by physically being on or near to the railway lines and risking serious injury.
v. 2
To incur risk of harming or jeopardizing.
England captain David Beckham has warned Wayne Rooney not to risk his long-term future by rushing his return from injury.
n. 1
A possible adverse event or outcome. A type of adverse event covered under an insurance policy.
n. 2
The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event.
There is risk of being brutalized, arrested, imprisoned and tortured, all because I want you to know the truth about this matter.

Related words

Word family: risk-averse riskfree risk-free riskless riskproof risksome
Phrases: run a risk take a risk currency risk diversifiable risk specific risk systematic risk unsystematic risk at any risk

Forms

Plural: risks → dangers, hazards, perils, exposures…
Past participle: risked
e.g. risked → jeopardized, ventured, staked, endangered…

Choose the right word

Risk, Jeopardy or Peril?

Jeopardy is nearly the same as peril, but involves, like risk, more of the element of chance or uncertainty; a man tried upon a capital charge is said to be put in jeopardy of life.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

court Have you ever served as a witness in a court case?
stake Do you think they know what is actually at stake?
endanger I would never do anything that could endanger Tom.
imperil Mean men's talk is enough to imperil the world.
chance Many would jump at the chance to live in New York.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
risk		rising
court		falling
stake		rising
endanger		falling
imperil		falling
chance		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters: dare¹
5 letters: court¹, stake¹, peril²
6 letters: chance¹, danger², hazard², gamble²
7 letters: venture², imperil³, jeopard
8 letters: exposure³, jeopardy³, endanger³
9 letters: adventure³
10 letters: insecurity⁵, jeopardize³, jeopardise
11 letters: imperilment
12 letters: endangerment⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (peril² = 2 syllables).