by chance

phrase

: in the haphazard course of events

they met by chance

Examples of by chance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Randomized trials assign people to different treatments by chance and follow them over time. — Lucy McGowan, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2026

The prosecutor said their paths crossed by chance and that the roles in the criminal case could easily have been reversed. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Erneste and Hwang met by chance at Park Hill High School north of Kansas City. — Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

The film follows Lena (Lena Trifunović), an anarchist student active in Belgrade’s anti-government movement, and Stefan (Andrija Krivokapić), a working-class youth who finds himself, almost by chance, among pro-government loyalists. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for by chance

• advance
• askance
• enhance
• expanse
• finance
• freelance
• mischance
• perchance
• romance
• circumstance
• esperance
• exceedance