chances 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in probabilities
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

chances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of chance

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 chances
Noun
Investors peg the chances of a quarter-point rate cut this month at about 90% and the odds of a half-point cut at nearly 10%, according to CME FedWatch Tool, a measure of market sentiment. Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025 Former Brevard County School Board Member Jennifer Jenkins is launching a longshot Democratic bid for Marco Rubio’s former Senate seat — and hoping the polarizing prospect of bringing independents into the party’s primary will strengthen her chances. Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025 In addition to Kiko, the hurricane center is also tracking a tropical wave in the Pacific Ocean with high chances of further development. Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025 But building a multi-purpose stadium at Burnham Yard gives the Front Range many more chances to prove it — and on the largest stages imaginable. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025 McAfee wanted to know what Gillis thought of Notre Dame’s chances to go all the way. Pete Sampson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025 Housing and job insecurity put someone at risk of homelessness, increasing their chances of ending up back in jail or stacking up additional charges. Margaret Shreiner, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Such shifts would significantly reduce chances for Democratic House control, and also give red states an additional 12 to 13 presidential electoral votes. Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 The weather service’s forecast suggests there will be off-and-on chances for showers and storms over the weekend and into next week. Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Precipitation chances in Little Rock fell on Friday, with temperatures remaining below average. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025 Thunderstorms chances drop on Thursday through the weekend (chances at 5% or below). Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Storm chances increase throughout the week, with a possibility of heavy rain in some areas and a blowing dust advisory in effect for parts of Pinal County and southeast Phoenix. Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025 Storm chances for Saturday night are slight, below 25%, mainly north of the metro, with most of the area not expected to see significant rain. Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chances
Noun
  • With any luck, it will someday be reversed, like other famous examples of Supreme Court decisions that reflected prejudice against African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, and others.
    Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Rather than hang out with the two old hags, Cherry decides to try her luck on the stand-up paddleboards with Brigitte and Daniel, but quickly loses her balance.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Our conversation revealed how commercial space, AI, and medicine are converging in ways that will open entirely new opportunities for businesses and societies.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • There is enough stacked against the party and president that every effort should be made to remove opportunities from the opposing party.
    Kimberly Ross, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Earlier updates during the same period showed higher probabilities, with some forecasts seeing formation chances as high as 90 percent prior to the recent downgrades.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Shark bite risk for water users remains extremely low, but a combination of factors (including increasing shark abundance, shifts in predator and prey distributions, and rising human attendance at beaches) can increase encounter probabilities.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The serial businessman has stakes in the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks, the Los Angeles Football Club and the Washington Spirit, among other business ventures.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Her bold spirit and belief in God's guidance have propelled her to pursue various impactful ventures.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Consult authority when… The issue involves legal matters, risks patient safety, or breaks institutional rules, such as elder abuse, falsified records, or medication issues.
    Kristen Moon, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Still, having one’s ideas confirmed too often risks complacency.
    Nathaniel Moore September 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • But what happens after the selfie is taken?
    Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The glue can also lead to less invasive surgery, as, under some circumstances, smaller incisions could be required.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
  • People grow, circumstances shift, and unexpected challenges arise.
    Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Nike's new shift to align with Kim Kardashian for their women's primer product rather than an elite woman athlete reveals a new strategy and gambles that the trend in hyper-feminism aspiration is more representative of their current female customer base.
    C200, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Summits between heads of state are high-stakes gambles to achieve breakthrough solutions.
    Celeste A. Wallander, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chances. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on chances

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!