Meaning & use
to be adventurous
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
willing to try new, exciting, or slightly risky things.
Grammar: Used after 'be' to describe a person: He is adventurous. It can also come before a noun: an adventurous traveler.
Patterns
- be adventurous
- be adventurous enough to do something
- an adventurous person
She decided to be adventurous and book a solo trip to Iceland.
If you want to be adventurous, order the dish you cannot pronounce.
He has always been adventurous, even as a small child.
adjectivecomparable
describing an activity or idea that involves new experiences and some risk.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: an adventurous plan, an adventurous holiday.
Patterns
- an adventurous holiday
- an adventurous approach
- an adventurous choice
They chose an adventurous route through the mountains.
It was an adventurous menu, full of unfamiliar spices.
Word forms
| comparative | more adventurous |
|---|---|
| superlative | most adventurous |
Common combinations
- be adventurous with food
- Try to be adventurous with food when you travel.
- an adventurous spirit
- Her adventurous spirit took her to twenty countries.
- an adventurous traveler
- Adventurous travelers often avoid package tours.
- feel adventurous
- I feel adventurous today, so let's take the long path.
- be adventurous enough to do something
- Are you adventurous enough to try rock climbing?
Synonyms and how they differ
- daring
- Stronger and more about courage in the face of real danger; 'adventurous' is lighter and more about enjoying novelty.
- bold
- Focuses on confidence and willingness to take risks, and it often describes decisions rather than people.
- spontaneous
- About acting on impulse rather than planning, which is not the same as seeking new experiences.
Opposites
Word family
- adventure noun
- An exciting or unusual experience.
- adventurously adverb
- In a way that shows willingness to try new things.
- adventurousness noun
- The quality of being adventurous.
Commonly confused: to be adventurous or adventuresome? to be adventurous or adventurist?
to be adventurous vs adventuresome
A much rarer word with almost the same meaning; 'adventurous' is the normal choice.
to be adventurous vs adventurist
Describes risky or reckless political or military action, not a personal trait.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
After 'be' you need the adjective 'adventurous'. 'Adventure' is a noun, 'adventurously' is an adverb, and 'adventurousness' is a noun, so none of them can follow 'be' here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to be adventurous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.