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

The rope must be long enough to ensure safe play, so there is zero chance of accidental biting when trying to get a more secure hold. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Another chance for strong storms is possible Wednesday afternoon, mainly east of a line from Butler to Moberly. — Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026

Verb

The highest-performing teams don’t leave the quality of their conversations to chance. — Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business Review, 17 Aug. 2026

According to the Climate Prediction Center, Southern states in a stretch from Texas through Florida will have the highest chances of above-average temperatures, but chances favor high temperatures for most of the lower half of the country. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing chance

• chance (upon)