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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
as in gambles
a risky undertaking
it's a chance, but I think the business will be profitable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in risks
to take a chance on
I don't think we should chance driving in this snowstorm
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in happens
to take place
there chanced to be a beautiful day when we were touring that part of Scotland
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
ABC News, 4 June 2026
On a press call Wednesday night, USDA officials stressed that the screwworm was not a threat to the food supply and that the chances of large-scale infestation were tiny.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
The more accounts that were targeted, the better the chances one of them will fall.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
What are the chances of seeing Netflix return to the Cannes Film Festival?
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 June 2026
Highest chances for heavy rain today will be for areas south of I-75.
—Shane Hinton, CBS News, 4 June 2026
With shows running from June through October, fans will have plenty of chances to make memories there this year.
—Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
What Steyer’s team says to watch Anthony York, a spokesperson for Steyer, said the next couple of days should give the campaign a better read on its chances of advancing.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Palace were fortunate that Rayo failed to convert two good first-half chances.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Snow chances For the entire event and across all of New England, the precipitation will be falling as snow out of the clouds.
—Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Looking ahead, Friday is still expected to be rain-free but chances increase on Saturday and Sunday.
—Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
The cloudy skies will gradually turn just partly cloudy, as rain chances ease to 70%.
—Roberto Villalpando, Houston Chronicle, 1 May 2026
Given his Game 1 heroics, having him out there might have made the Sabres’ slim comeback chances slightly better.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
Climate change, from the burning of coal, oil and gas, increased the intensity of Canada's 2023 fire season by at least 50% and doubled the chances of the drier, hotter weather conditions that were needed for the fire, a 2023 study found.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
On a press call Wednesday night, USDA officials stressed that the screwworm was not a threat to the food supply and that the chances of large-scale infestation were tiny.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
The more accounts that were targeted, the better the chances one of them will fall.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
What are the chances of seeing Netflix return to the Cannes Film Festival?
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 June 2026
Highest chances for heavy rain today will be for areas south of I-75.
—Shane Hinton, CBS News, 4 June 2026
With shows running from June through October, fans will have plenty of chances to make memories there this year.
—Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
What Steyer’s team says to watch Anthony York, a spokesperson for Steyer, said the next couple of days should give the campaign a better read on its chances of advancing.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Palace were fortunate that Rayo failed to convert two good first-half chances.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Verb
Rain chances ramp up as temperatures warm in the afternoon and a storm system makes its way further north.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Snow chances For the entire event and across all of New England, the precipitation will be falling as snow out of the clouds.
—Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Looking ahead, Friday is still expected to be rain-free but chances increase on Saturday and Sunday.
—Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
The cloudy skies will gradually turn just partly cloudy, as rain chances ease to 70%.
—Roberto Villalpando, Houston Chronicle, 1 May 2026
Given his Game 1 heroics, having him out there might have made the Sabres’ slim comeback chances slightly better.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chances
Noun
-
Best of luck accomplishing your goals today, and, of course, do keep in touch.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
1 June 2026
-
Jupiter will eventually return to your sign for the first time since 2014, kicking off a major season of luck, growth and expansion.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Closer Raisel Iglesias earned his 11th save in as many opportunities despite allowing two singles in the ninth.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026
-
Various outings by boat offer opportunities to explore the island or try different water sports (advance reservations required).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Goldman listed the probabilities of advancement for all 48 nations, including a spot in the Round of 16 for host countries Canada (50%), Mexico (68%) and the United States (39%).—
Auzinea Bacon,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
-
Many users treat it as an information product, using it to track probabilities rather than place bets.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
For the first four games, the extensive gambles taken by the front office — not just this season but for years — seemed to be paying off in a surprising 3-1 road trip.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
Most of his big gambles, on things such as the MGM studio and library, which led to the creation of the Turner Classic Movies channel, paid off handsomely.—
Michael J. Socolow,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The dose also matters, meaning someone with alpha-gal risks a bigger reaction by eating a large amount of red meat.—
Eva Flowe
May 29,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
Or Gonzalez fully holds out and risks fines.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Today, the property is a best-case example of the magic that happens when old meets new.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
And unlike in-person voting, where verification happens upfront, mail-in ballots must be inspected and have signatures verified.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Once they’re settled (or at least as settled as they can be given the circumstances), Rich’s show begins.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
1 June 2026
-
The real lottery win stems directly from the unique circumstances of his roster journey during the 2025-26 campaign.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Mercury — now in Cancer and your eighth house of joint ventures and psychological motivations — will clash with Saturn, which could trigger serious conversations around dating, children or even financial entanglements.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
-
Restrictions on presidents themselves are not expected to impact ventures like the Trumps’ World Liberty Financial.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chances. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
