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
• 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
• odd
• random
• fluky
• unpremeditated
• arbitrary
• coincidental
• unforeseen
• uncertain
• forced
• freak
• desultory
• haphazard
• aimless
• unforeseeable
• involuntary
• unconscious
• coerced
• 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
• 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

Doc McStuffins also offers families a chance to talk about the real-life contributions of Black medical professionals who have long cared for their communities. —Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 30 Jan. 2026

Future geopolitical control will not be decided by who has the best AI, but by who sets rigid boundaries before the chance to do so disappears. —Mark Minevich, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

Verb

After midnight, rain chances ramp up to about 40% amid increasing clouds. —Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026

Rain chances People in the Miami-area should plan on packing a rain jacket or an umbrella through Friday. —Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2026

Phrases Containing chance

• chance (upon)