1
as in luck
the uncertain course of events
rather than leave everything to chance, let's plan how we're going to spend our time in New York City
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in probability
a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another
the chance of being struck by lightning is very low
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in venture
a risky undertaking
it's a chance, but I think the business will be profitable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in accidental
happening by chance
a chance advantage that I immediately recognized and made full use of
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to risk
to take a chance on
I don't think we should chance driving in this snowstorm
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to happen
to take place
there chanced to be a beautiful day when we were touring that part of Scotland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chance
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
27 June 2026
With Prime Day 2026 winding down, now is your last chance to upgrade your pet's sleep setup before the deals disappear.
—
Jessica Moore,
USA Today,
27 June 2026
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Politicians, no longer content to leave elections to chance, are working to choose their voters as often as every two years.
—
Patrick Marley,
Washington Post,
25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chance
Noun
But its chances are looking very good, especially after this five-goal win.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
27 June 2026
With Prime Day 2026 winding down, now is your last chance to upgrade your pet's sleep setup before the deals disappear.
—
Jessica Moore,
USA Today,
27 June 2026
Verb
Storm chances increase as week progresses Rain and storm chances will persist later this week and into the weekend.
—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Politicians, no longer content to leave elections to chance, are working to choose their voters as often as every two years.
—
Patrick Marley,
Washington Post,
25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chance
Noun
-
Perhaps the problem arose from the extravagant expectations of American life, the sense that bad luck will always be chased by good fortune and that the poor man is merely someone who has yet to strike it rich.
-
Members gather on local piers to learn crabbing techniques, understand regulations and try their luck at bringing home fresh seafood.
Noun
-
The band had been denied the opportunity to perform during Haiti’s pre-World Cup friendly against Peru, despite the presence of a Peruvian band.
-
Bosnia-Herzegovina rallied today to give itself the best possible opportunity to advance.
Noun
-
Goldman estimates the options market is assigning roughly a 41% probability that two-year Treasury yields will move more than 50 basis points in either direction over the next six months.
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
Noun
-
Under his guidance, J Records ignited the careers of Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and, through a joint venture with Octone Records, Maroon 5.
-
Well versed in what the lunar surface truly offers, Britt scolded a number of arty accounts of lunar territory promulgated by both NASA and commercial space ventures.
Adjective
-
Always turn off the electricity and water supply line and remove nearby light fixtures when dealing with bursting ceiling pipes to avoid accidental electrocution.
-
In fact, the two met via an accidental Instagram follow.
Verb
-
At its core, the play examines what happens when loyalty to an institution collides with a commitment to the truth, as a young lawyer risks his career to challenge powerful military leaders and expose wrongdoing within the ranks.
-
The victories of Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila Chevalier show the growing power of a progressive bloc that risks stealing the party’s megaphone during a campaign that Democrats had hoped to center on affordability, not aid to Israel.
Verb
-
Prime Day 2026 is here and now’s the time to jump on all the amazing deals happening this week, starting today, Tuesday, June 23 through Friday, June 26.
-
Here are the state races happening June 23 and a few key races to watch.
Noun
-
The circumstances surrounding the killings remain unknown.
-
What’s interesting about the characters in your book is that their ideological alliances are quite fluid, depending on the circumstances.
Cite this Entry
“Chance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chance. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
