fighting chance

noun

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Even when Order 66 came down, his loyalty to Ahsoka Tano enabled him to resist his chip long enough to give her a fighting chance. Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2023 For years, climate scientists around the world have called for a sharp decline in fossil fuel reliance, if Earth is to have a fighting chance at future habitability. Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 15 Dec. 2022 But a combination of a good skin care routine, over-the-counter topicals and prescription medication can give you a fighting chance at freedom from adult acne. Sophie Putka, Discover Magazine, 14 Aug. 2020 Invasive weeds are big competition for wildflowers, easily outpacing and crowding them out, so here is where your hula hoe can come in handy, just slicing off emerging weeds at the ground so the wildflowers have a fighting chance. Jeanette Marantosstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2023 The party of the common man (and woman) still has a fighting chance to win back their votes. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 10 Nov. 2022 In the Big 12, however, every team has a fighting chance. Dallas News, 3 Nov. 2022 While the ballot language might seem confusing, advocates say the change would allow no vote to be wasted and provide a platform for minority or lesser-known candidates to have a fighting chance. oregonlive, 7 Oct. 2022 The errant surveys spooked some candidates into spending more money than necessary, and diverted help from others who otherwise had a fighting chance of winning. Steve Eder, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fighting chance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near fighting chance

Cite this Entry

“Fighting chance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fighting%20chance. Accessed 20 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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