chance

1 of 2

noun

ˈchan(t)s 

1

a

: something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intention or observable cause

Which cards you are dealt is simply a matter of chance.

b

: the assumed impersonal purposeless determiner of unaccountable happenings : luck

an outcome decided by chance

c

: the fortuitous or incalculable element in existence : contingency

… you surely have endured strange chances …

—Alfred Tennyson

2

: a situation favoring some purpose : opportunity

needed a chance to relax

3

: a fielding opportunity in baseball

4

a

: the possibility of a particular outcome in an uncertain situation

What chance has he of pulling through?

also : the degree of likelihood of such an outcome

a small chance of success

b

chances plural : the more likely indications

chances are he's already gone

5

a

: risk

not taking any chances

b

: a raffle ticket

chance adjective

chance

2 of 2

verb

chanced; chancing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to take place, come about, or turn out by chance : happen

it chanced to rain that day

b

: to have the good or bad luck

we chanced to meet

2

: to come or light by chance

they chanced upon a remote inn

transitive verb

1

: to leave the outcome of to chance

2

: to accept the hazard of : risk

knew the trip was dangerous but decided to chance it

Phrases

by chance

: in the haphazard course of events

they met by chance

chance one's arm

British : to take a risk

Synonyms

Noun

• accident
• casualty [archaic]
• circumstance
• hap
• hazard
• luck

Verb

• adventure
• gamble (on)
• hazard
• risk
• tempt
• venture

Examples of chance in a Sentence

Noun

This is the chance of a lifetime!

Everyone deserves a fair chance of winning the award.

If you give me a chance, I know I can do a good job.

We didn't have much chance to talk about it.

There's a good chance that we'll finish on time.

If you are free tonight, is there any chance you could join me for dinner?

Which cards you're given is simply a matter of chance.

Verb

He couldn't chance playing with a broken toe.

I don't think we should chance driving in this snowstorm.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The more Hutson figures it out, the better the Canadiens’ chances become of pulling off an upset against the Capitals. —Arpon Basu, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

The 70-year-old cardinal from Veneto, who became the youngest Vatican secretary of state in 84 years in 2013, when Pope Francis chose him for the role, tops a list of potential candidates, with a 29 percent chance of being chosen as the next pope. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025

Verb

Establishing Responsibility Rather than leave situations to chance and potentially open themselves up to fines or penalties, tax organizations should put definite rules in place regarding their use of GenAI in tax procedures. —Sal Visca, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025

The Venezuelans are being held at the maximum-security gang prison with little prospect of any due process or chance to contest their imprisonment. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English chaunce, chance "occurrence (especially unforeseen or providential), stroke of good or bad luck, luck, fall of the dice," borrowed from Anglo-French cheaunce, chaunce, chance, going back to Vulgar Latin *cadentia, noun derivative (formally feminine singular from neuter plural) of Latin cadent-, cadens, present participle of cadere "to fall, be cast (of dice, lots), turn out, come to pass," perhaps going back to an Indo-European verbal base *ḱad- or *ḱHd- "fall," whence also Sanskrit śaśāda "(s/he) fell off/out," śatsyati "(s/he) will fall off/out"

Verb

Middle English chancen, chaunsen, verbal derivative of chance, chaunce chance entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing chance

• a remote chance
• a snowball's chance in hell
• chance-medley
• chance of survival
• chance on
• chance one's arm
• chance upon
• chance would be a fine thing
• dog's chance
• fair chance
• fighting chance
• game of chance
• ghost of a chance
• half a chance
• in with a chance of
• leave nothing to chance
• leave to chance
• main chance
• on the off chance
• outside chance
• second chance
• slim chance
• stand a chance
• stand a chance of
• stands no chance of
• take a chance

Rhymes for chance

• dance
• glance
• hance
• hanse
• lance
• manse
• prance
• stance
• trance
• advance
• askance
• enhance

Kids Definition

chance

1 of 3 noun

ˈchan(t)s 

1

: the uncertain course of events

they met by chance

2

: opportunity sense 1

had a chance to travel

3

: the possibility of loss or injury

took chances driving too fast

4

: the possibility or probability of something happening

there is a chance of rain

5

: a ticket in a raffle

chance

2 of 3 verb

chanced; chancing

1

: to take place by chance : happen

it chanced to rain that day

2

: to come unexpectedly

—used with upon

chanced upon a good restaurant

3

: risk entry 2 sense 2

knew the trip was dangerous but decided to chance it

chance

3 of 3 adjective

: happening by chance

a chance meeting