fighting chance

noun

: a chance that may be realized by a struggle
the patient had a fighting chance to live

Examples of fighting chance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Chelsea 2-0 Burnley West Ham vs Bournemouth Quietly, from what looked like a bleak position five weeks ago, West Ham have given themselves a fighting chance of Premier League survival. Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026 Even with a quiet second half, McDowell scrapped for loose balls and helped give the Jayhawks a fighting chance. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026 The combination of a mega-firm running point on negotiations and new members adding heft gave the Mountain West a fighting chance to survive the Pac-12 raid in a manner the old Pac-12, crippled by leadership failure, could not survive the Big Ten’s right cross. Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026 Vote for a Republican primary candidate who has a fighting chance to win in November. Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fighting chance

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fighting chance was in 1889

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Cite this Entry

“Fighting chance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fighting%20chance. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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