chance

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

see also:

chance one's arm

Synonyms of chance

• risk

Examples of chance in a Sentence

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

Rain chances ramp up as temperatures warm in the afternoon and a storm system makes its way further north. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026

The rainfall chances in South Florida over the next seven days. —Shane Hinton, CBS News, 28 May 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

With ballots already in voters’ hands and a large share of the electorate still undecided, Thursday’s showdown offered one last, high‑stakes chance to draw contrasts. —James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for chance

• dance
• glance
• hance
• hanse
• lance
• manse
• prance
• stance
• trance
• advance
• askance
• enhance

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