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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
The injury was an unfortunate occurrence in his World Cup debut and could affect Sweden’s chances going forward. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026 The only real scoring chances arrived in the dying moments of a game that carried macabre tendencies, long after the match had devolved into a turf war. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 June 2026 And Christian Pulisic returned to action and looked like his game-changing best, coming on in the 58th minute and quickly providing scores of chances as the US took the game to the Turks. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 Americans have more chances than ever in history to watch a president’s activities daily. Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 June 2026 There will be plenty of chances for Swain to break down defenders and attempt to wow on his way to the basket — but those moments will be a garnish rather than the main entree of his rookie season. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 Rain chances continue Friday into Saturday morning, with some storms still capable of heavy downpours. Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026 The dust may also help suppress additional rain chances as the hot, dry air settles over the region. Michael Autovino, CBS News, 25 June 2026 But the chances have been few and far between for both sides. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
Verb
The rainfall chances in South Florida on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 24 June 2026 Considerably more sympathetic to her plight is Melanie Saunders (Graynor), a high-minded acting teacher whose intensive Act One studio Hannah chances upon while researching her favorite young actress, Gracie Thomas (Tavi Gevinson), online. Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 June 2026 Storm chances increase as week progresses Rain and storm chances will persist later this week and into the weekend. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chances
Noun
  • Perhaps the problem arose from the extravagant expectations of American life, the sense that bad luck will always be chased by good fortune and that the poor man is merely someone who has yet to strike it rich.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
  • Members gather on local piers to learn crabbing techniques, understand regulations and try their luck at bringing home fresh seafood.
    Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Enterprises and boards are continually searching for advantages and opportunities.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 24 June 2026
  • Burries should get plenty of opportunities with the ball in his hands next season, though Milwaukee should also have enough veterans around for Burries to develop methodically.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • That is not a mark against these funds; plenty of sound investing rests on probabilities.
    Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • The bottom line is forecasts are about probabilities.
    Achim Zeileis, Fortune, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Drawing on generations of Chinatown family lore and silences, See turns China City’s vanished streets and her ancestors’ immigrant gambles into a historical fiction layered with stories of survival and belonging.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
  • The alien invasion adventure opens on June 12 and, with its $115 million budget, represents one of summer’s biggest gambles — a twisty conspiracy thriller that doesn’t come wrapped in familiar IP.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Heart risks In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration required label changes on testosterone therapy that stated the safety and effectiveness had not been established for men who had signs and symptoms associated with idiopathic hypogonadism, a condition that involves low testosterone levels.
    Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
  • Advertisement Companies may also want to monitor how further negotiations unfold before committing ships to the area, amid concern that Israel’s parallel war against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon risks derailing progress.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • At its core, the play examines what happens when loyalty to an institution collides with a commitment to the truth, as a young lawyer risks his career to challenge powerful military leaders and expose wrongdoing within the ranks.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
  • At Cosmedica, the price is built to remove the small logistics that make a foreign trip stressful, and most of the planning happens before a patient lands.
    Malana VanTyler, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Cooper Freeman, Alaska director at the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, sharply criticized the circumstances surrounding the whale’s death.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • If circumstances had gone Spain’s way with more clinical finishing or a Cape Verde defender making a mistake, then the result would have been different and a lot of the chatter currently happening (including here) would likely not be happening.
    Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • Here's what to know about the new test rover as NASA eyes more ventures to both the moon and Mars.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • While helming his family’s businesses, Gokongwei has been actively pursuing other ventures.
    Ian Sayson, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Chances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chances. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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