beat the odds

idiom

: to succeed despite not having a good chance of succeeding
Most new restaurants fail, but this one somehow managed to beat the odds.

Examples of beat the odds in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Startup founders who are looking to beat the odds can apply for a spot in the Founder Fellowship program. Kate Vitasek, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 Two winners beat the odds to win the massive Powerball jackpot. Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025 In other news: Miss Kentucky beat the odds: Before the flashing cameras and pageant lights, Ariana Rodriguez was just another kid in Kentucky's foster care system hoping for a better future. Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2025 Elon Musk’s private space company seems to beat the odds and constantly proves the naysayers wrong. Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beat the odds

Cite this Entry

“Beat the odds.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beat%20the%20odds. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

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