Meaning & use
at risk for
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Likely to experience something bad, such as a disease or problem.
Grammar: Followed by a noun or noun phrase: 'at risk for heart disease'.
Patterns
- at risk for something
- be at risk for something
People who smoke are at risk for lung cancer.
Children who don't get vaccinated are at risk for serious diseases.
The company is at risk for bankruptcy if sales don't improve.
Common combinations
- at risk for diabetes
- Being overweight puts you at risk for diabetes.
- at risk for heart disease
- High cholesterol makes you at risk for heart disease.
- at risk for complications
- The patient is at risk for complications after surgery.
Synonyms and how they differ
- at risk of
- Common in British English and used with verbs or nouns: 'at risk of developing diabetes'.
- vulnerable to
- Focuses on being easily harmed, often used with diseases or criticism.
Opposites
Commonly confused: at risk for or at risk of?
at risk for vs at risk of
'At risk of' is more common in British English and is often followed by a verb ending in -ing, while 'at risk for' is typical in American English and is followed by a noun.
Practice
People with a family history of the disease are at risk ___ it.
Choose one answer.
In American English, 'at risk for' is used before a noun. 'At risk of' would also be possible in British English, but 'for' is the standard choice here. 'At risk to' and 'at risk with' are not used in this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “at risk for”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.