chance

1 of 2

noun

ˈchan(t)s 

1

a

: something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intention or observable cause

Which cards you are dealt is simply a matter of chance.

b

: the assumed impersonal purposeless determiner of unaccountable happenings : luck

an outcome decided by chance

c

: the fortuitous or incalculable element in existence : contingency

… you surely have endured strange chances …

—Alfred Tennyson

2

: a situation favoring some purpose : opportunity

needed a chance to relax

3

: a fielding opportunity in baseball

4

a

: the possibility of a particular outcome in an uncertain situation

What chance has he of pulling through?

also : the degree of likelihood of such an outcome

a small chance of success

b

chances plural : the more likely indications

chances are he's already gone

5

a

: risk

not taking any chances

b

: a raffle ticket

chance adjective

chance

2 of 2

verb

chanced; chancing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to take place, come about, or turn out by chance : happen

it chanced to rain that day

b

: to have the good or bad luck

we chanced to meet

2

: to come or light by chance

they chanced upon a remote inn

transitive verb

1

: to leave the outcome of to chance

2

: to accept the hazard of : risk

knew the trip was dangerous but decided to chance it

Phrases

by chance

: in the haphazard course of events

they met by chance

chance one's arm

British : to take a risk

Synonyms

Noun

• accident
• casualty [archaic]
• circumstance
• hap
• hazard
• luck

Verb

• adventure
• gamble (on)
• hazard
• risk
• tempt
• venture

Examples of chance in a Sentence

Noun

This is the chance of a lifetime!

Everyone deserves a fair chance of winning the award.

If you give me a chance, I know I can do a good job.

We didn't have much chance to talk about it.

There's a good chance that we'll finish on time.

If you are free tonight, is there any chance you could join me for dinner?

Which cards you're given is simply a matter of chance.

Verb

He couldn't chance playing with a broken toe.

I don't think we should chance driving in this snowstorm.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Opponents have logged just 368 scoring chances and 138 high-danger chances when Reinhart is on the ice — both the lowest in the NHL. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024

At the time of the meeting, the forecast showed a 50% chance of clear skies or overcast and the likelihood of overcast skies was higher in Texas and Oklahoma. —Sadie Lacicero, arkansasonline.com, 7 Apr. 2024

To what degree the decision to learn English is a matter of choice, chance, or expediency varies widely within and between countries. —Rosemary Salomone, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024

One Gazan family nursing a new baby girl, hoping for one day a chance at a normal life. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024

Jones should have gone to the free-throw line for two shots with a chance to win the game for Sacramento. —Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024

Pessimism about Ukraine’s battlefield chances has increased in recent months as Russian forces have regained the initiative on the battlefield, largely because Ukrainians are short on troops and ammunition. —Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024

Del Rio, Texas: Dry, cloudy with a low chance of seeing eclipse, temperatures in the 80s. Dallas, Texas: Likely dry, mostly cloudy, some breaks in clouds possible, low chance of seeing eclipse, but possible. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2024

The Lakers host Minnesota on Sunday night with another chance to play their way out of the back-end of the play-in tournament. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024

Verb

In social media, like in horse racing, Yass doesn’t leave his bets to chance. —Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 26 Mar. 2024

Before the main event each day, a Pit Party will take place, giving fans that chance to see the trucks up close, take photos, meet drivers and crews and get autographs. —The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2024

Yet much of this has more to do with a person’s genetics, cultural influences, past experience or sometimes even chance events more than gender. —Vinesh Sukumaran, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024

Alpha Mail In the mid-1970s, FedEx was deep in debt, so founder Fred Smith chanced the company’s last $5,000 in a Vegas blackjack game. —Chris Carra, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024

Chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F to be safe to eat, so don't chance it. —Tamara Gane, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2024

Too many are leaving the search for the right ideas to chance. —Keith Ferrazzi, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024

Don’t leave anything to chance or let anyone get in your way. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024

Here is the format: First OT: Normal period, with both teams chance to score. —Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English chaunce, chance "occurrence (especially unforeseen or providential), stroke of good or bad luck, luck, fall of the dice," borrowed from Anglo-French cheaunce, chaunce, chance, going back to Vulgar Latin *cadentia, noun derivative (formally feminine singular from neuter plural) of Latin cadent-, cadens, present participle of cadere "to fall, be cast (of dice, lots), turn out, come to pass," perhaps going back to an Indo-European verbal base *ḱad- or *ḱHd- "fall," whence also Sanskrit śaśāda "(s/he) fell off/out," śatsyati "(s/he) will fall off/out"

Verb

Middle English chancen, chaunsen, verbal derivative of chance, chaunce chance entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing chance

• a remote chance
• a snowball's chance in hell
• by chance
• chance-medley
• chance of survival
• chance on
• chance one's arm
• chance upon
• chance would be a fine thing
• dog's chance
• fair chance
• fighting chance
• game of chance
• ghost of a chance
• half a chance
• in with a chance of
• leave nothing to chance
• leave to chance
• main chance
• on the off chance
• outside chance
• second chance
• slim chance
• stand a chance
• stand a chance of
• stands no chance of
• take a chance

Kids Definition

chance

1 of 3 noun

ˈchan(t)s 

1

: the uncertain course of events

they met by chance

2

: opportunity sense 1

had a chance to travel

3

: the possibility of loss or injury

took chances driving too fast

4

: the possibility or probability of something happening

there is a chance of rain

5

: a ticket in a raffle

chance

2 of 3 verb

chanced; chancing

1

: to take place by chance : happen

it chanced to rain that day

2

: to come unexpectedly

—used with upon

chanced upon a good restaurant

3

: risk entry 2 sense 2

knew the trip was dangerous but decided to chance it

chance

3 of 3 adjective

: happening by chance

a chance meeting