Risk & Uncertainty — B2 English Vocabulary

This B2 vocabulary list gathers 50 upper-intermediate English words about risk & uncertainty — danger, chance and the unknown. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

1. hazardous/ˈhæz.ə.dəs/

   “It is a hazardous job.”

2. peril/ˈper.əl/

   “Sailors faced great peril.”

3. menace/ˈmen.ɪs/

   “The stray dog was a menace.”

4. unpredictable/ˌʌn.prɪˈdɪk.tə.bəl/

   “The weather is unpredictable.”

5. probability/ˌprɒb.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

   “There is a high probability of rain.”

6. likelihood/ˈlaɪk.li.hʊd/

   “The likelihood of success is low.”

7. precaution/prɪˈkɔː.ʃən/

   “Take every precaution.”

8. jeopardy/ˈdʒep.ə.di/

   “His job is in jeopardy.”

9. jeopardise/ˈdʒep.ə.daɪz/

   “Do not jeopardise your health.”

10. endanger/ɪnˈdeɪn.dʒə/

    “Smoking can endanger your life.”

11. gamble/ˈɡæm.bəl/

    “Starting a business is a gamble.”

12. exposure/ɪkˈspəʊ.ʒə/

    “Exposure to the sun is risky.”

13. odds/ɒdz/

    “The odds are against us.”

14. dare/deə/

    “He did not dare to jump.”

15. doubtful/ˈdaʊt.fəl/

    “Success looks doubtful.”

16. imminent/ˈɪm.ɪ.nənt/

    “The danger is imminent.”

17. precarious/prɪˈkeə.ri.əs/

    “He is in a precarious position.”

18. insure/ɪnˈʃɔː/

    “They insure the building each year.”

19. fluke/fluːk/

    “Winning was a complete fluke.”

20. downside/ˈdaʊn.saɪd/

    “Every plan has a downside.”

21. tentative/ˈten.tə.tɪv/

    “We made a tentative plan.”

22. catastrophe/kəˈtæs.trə.fi/

    “The flood was a catastrophe.”

23. catastrophic/ˌkæt.əˈstrɒf.ɪk/

    “The error was catastrophic.”

24. contingency/kənˈtɪn.dʒən.si/

    “We have a contingency plan.”

25. reassure/ˌriː.əˈʃɔː/

    “She tried to reassure him.”

26. perilous/ˈper.əl.əs/

    “It was a perilous journey.”

27. fluctuation/ˌflʌk.tʃuˈeɪ.ʃən/

    “There was a fluctuation in prices.”

28. looming/ˈluː.mɪŋ/

    “A crisis was looming.”

29. exposed/ɪkˈspəʊzd/

    “The troops were dangerously exposed.”

30. random/ˈræn.dəm/

    “It was a random event.”

31. foolproof/ˈfuːl.pruːf/

    “There is no foolproof method.”

32. stake/steɪk/

    “Many lives were at stake.”

33. erratic/ɪˈræt.ɪk/

    “His behaviour is erratic.”

34. lethal/ˈliː.θəl/

    “The dose was lethal.”

35. reckless/ˈrek.ləs/

    “He is a reckless driver.”

36. cautionary/ˈkɔː.ʃən.ər.i/

    “It is a cautionary tale.”

37. improbable/ɪmˈprɒb.ə.bəl/

    “Such luck is improbable.”

38. susceptible/səˈsep.tɪ.bəl/

    “Children are susceptible to colds.”

39. ambivalent/æmˈbɪv.əl.ənt/

    “She feels ambivalent about it.”

40. forewarn/fɔːˈwɔːn/

    “Let me forewarn you of the storm.”

41. mitigate/ˈmɪt.ɪ.ɡeɪt/

    “We must mitigate the risks.”

42. fallback/ˈfɔːl.bæk/

    “Savings are a useful fallback.”

43. unforeseen/ˌʌn.fɔːˈsiːn/

    “An unforeseen problem arose.”

44. treacherous/ˈtretʃ.ər.əs/

    “The icy roads were treacherous.”

45. inconclusive/ˌɪn.kənˈkluː.sɪv/

    “The tests were inconclusive.”

46. pitfall/ˈpɪt.fɔːl/

    “Avoid this common pitfall.”

47. expose/ɪkˈspəʊz/

    “Do not expose the data to hackers.”

48. coincidental/kəʊˌɪn.sɪˈden.təl/

    “The timing was coincidental.”

49. precautionary/prɪˈkɔː.ʃən.ər.i/

    “It was a precautionary step.”

50. dubious/ˈdjuː.bi.əs/

    “The plan seems dubious.”