chance 1 of 3

Definition of chancenext
1
2
as in opportunity
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place this is my one chance to succeed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

4
as in venture
a risky undertaking it's a chance, but I think the business will be profitable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chance

2 of 3

adjective

chance

3 of 3

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chance
Noun
Google Rain chances should climb in the days following the election, with a 50% chance of showers and storms Wednesday and a 40% chance Thursday. Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026 After that, a shift in the weather pattern is expected, including a solid chance at rain and thunderstorms by midweek. Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Pascal Jansen has the team playing attractive, winning soccer, Nico Fernández Mercau is a best XI-caliber player, while Maxi Moralez is a warm blanket of familiarity, chance creation and lovable nonsense. Tom Bogert, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026 But in California politics, institutions rarely leave outcomes to chance. Jon Fleischman, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chance
Noun
  • So far, though, astronomers haven't had much luck finding any such line.
    Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
  • But many people who bought travel insurance as a financial backstop to protect against such travel disruptions may be out of luck.
    Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The visit is also an opportunity to model activities that parents can do at home with their kids, such as reading a book aloud, said Carneshia Edwards, who leads the hospital’s kindergarten readiness team.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Rubio said the administration wants to strengthen ties with the region in the wake of the Venezuela operation and ensure that issues such as crime and economic opportunities are jointly addressed.
    DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • New in-game levers like the shot-in-the-dark and endless advantages have changed the game of Survivor to game theory that rewards probability calculation over spearing fish.
    Kristen Geil, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026
  • One of the conditions that triggers the centers to open is if there is a 50% or higher probability of nighttime lows of 37 degrees or lower for two or more days within a five-day span.
    Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Owners David, a pharmacist, and Ryan, a counselor, began restoring historic homes out of personal passion before turning their knack for curation into a hospitality venture.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026
  • July 23 – August 22 Private ventures may be about to demand a little extra courage.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • In early February, a 59-year-old Halethorpe man died after a lighter sparked an accidental house fire, Baltimore County Fire officials said.
    JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
  • This helps prevent accidental spills or leaks, which can create quite a mess in your luggage.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But experts, diplomats, Cuban Americans and Cuban private entrepreneurs have been warning the administration that a complete halt of oil supplies would risk the country’s total collapse, since the population was already enduring a profound humanitarian crisis.
    Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Public acknowledgment of the clash risked escalating into direct confrontation between nuclear powers, a step that, in 1952, many feared could ignite a third world war.
    Steven Beynon, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Mickey Drexler doesn’t like to wait for things to happen.
    Hilary Milnes, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2026
  • In Chechnya, only the first step happened, which was predictable.
    Robert A. Pape In The Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The circumstances surrounding this incident are currently under investigation.
    Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
  • True love lies in the middle — neither one creates the circumstances for romance to bloom.
    Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 27 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Chance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chance. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

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