Synonyms of chance

chance 1 of 3

noun

ˈchan(t)s 

1

as in luck

the uncertain course of events

rather than leave everything to chance, let's plan how we're going to spend our time in New York City

Synonyms & Similar Words

• luck
• circumstance
• accident
• hazard
• casualty
• fate
• hap
• risk
• uncertainty
• randomness
• fortune
• fluke
• fortuity
• danger
• destiny
• fortuitousness
• happenstance
• happenchance
• peril
• haphazardry
• lot
• doom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purpose
• intention
• intent
• plan
• design
• scheme
• outline

2

as in opportunity

a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place

this is my one chance to succeed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opportunity
• room
• occasion
• opening
• break
• shot
• way
• play
• pass
• juncture

3

as in probability

a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another

the chance of being struck by lightning is very low

Synonyms & Similar Words

• probability
• odds
• percentage
• possibility
• potential
• prospect
• contingency
• outlook
• potentiality
• conditional probability

4

as in venture

a risky undertaking

it's a chance, but I think the business will be profitable

Synonyms & Similar Words

• venture
• gamble
• speculation
• throw
• adventure
• bet
• flyer
• enterprise
• flutter
• stake
• wager
• hazard
• flier
• crapshoot
• liberty
• play
• long shot
• dark horse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sure thing

chance

2 of 3

adjective

as in accidental

happening by chance

a chance advantage that I immediately recognized and made full use of

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accidental
• unexpected
• inadvertent
• fortuitous
• unintended
• incidental
• unwitting
• unplanned
• casual
• unintentional
• flukey
• odd
• unpremeditated
• random
• fluky
• freak
• coincidental
• unforeseen
• arbitrary
• uncertain
• forced
• desultory
• haphazard
• aimless
• unforeseeable
• involuntary
• coerced
• unconscious
• unprompted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• intended
• planned
• deliberate
• sure
• intentional
• set
• certain
• calculated
• expected
• inevitable
• destined
• premeditated
• fixed
• foreseeable
• foreseen
• predictable
• knowing
• premeditative
• prepense
• predetermined
• prescribed
• volunteer
• conscious
• voluntary
• predestined
• preordained
• foreordained
• wilful
• unforced
• willful
• freewill

chance

3 of 3

verb

1

as in to risk

to take a chance on

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• risk
• venture
• tempt
• confront
• adventure
• hazard
• gamble (on)
• dare
• face
• run the risk of
• challenge
• jeopardize
• breast
• brave
• compromise
• endanger
• imperil
• subject
• beard
• defy
• menace
• outbrave
• wager
• expose
• brazen
• bet (on)

2

as in to happen

to take place

there chanced to be a beautiful day when we were touring that part of Scotland

Synonyms & Similar Words

• happen
• come
• be
• do
• occur
• pass
• come down
• come about
• cook
• come to pass
• befall
• go down
• come off
• transpire
• go on
• hap
• rise
• develop
• betide
• proceed
• materialize
• result
• intervene
• arise
• come up
• shape (up)
• break
• spring (up)
• follow
• fall out
• crop (up)
• turn out
• go off

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of chance

Noun

While the master’s in management programs are somewhat selective, applicants have a stronger chance of getting their foot in the door than for an MBA, which has a starkly lower acceptance rate. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025

See tariffs as a chance to diversify, innovate and build trust. —Rick Morris, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Verb

From conviction to chance at release The Menendez brothers were sentenced in 1996 to life without the possibility of parole for the 1989 killings of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in the family’s Beverly Hills mansion. —Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Our message to New Yorkers, however, is simple: don’t leave your legacy to chance. —Marco Villegas, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2025

Phrases Containing chance

• chance (upon)