chance 1 of 3

noun

ˈchan(t)s How to pronounce chance (audio)
Definition of chancenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opportunity
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place this is my one chance to succeed

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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

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4
as in venture
a risky undertaking it's a chance, but I think the business will be profitable

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chance

2 of 3

adjective

as in accidental
happening by chance a chance advantage that I immediately recognized and made full use of

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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2
as in to happen
to take place there chanced to be a beautiful day when we were touring that part of Scotland

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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 chance
Noun
Its proximity to Mars means there is a chance MMX might scoop up traces of the red planet itself that rained down on Phobos after its formation or capture. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026 With Meyer's help, Florida selected Jon Sumrall, whose first year is off to a roaring start thanks to two top-10 wins (Ole Miss and Texas) before he's even had a chance to coach a full season. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
After dark, chances rise to 90% and the totals could exceed a half an inch, forecasters say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026 Highs are expected in the upper 80s and the rain chances for the week through Sunday hover around the 80% range — especially Wednesday when the weather service puts storm chances at 88%. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chance
  1. luck
  2. opportunity
  3. probability
  4. venture
  5. accidental
  6. risk
  7. happen
  8. circumstance
Noun
  • And, in the case of the continent’s richest man Aliko Dangote, the conflict has proven the old adage that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles star as the down-on-their-luck Dashwood sisters, who are forced to move from their fine family estate into the decidedly more modest Barton Cottage.
    — Nicholas DeRenzo, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of luck
Noun
  • In the 1950s, bluestripe snapper, also known in Hawai’i by its Tahitian name, ta’ape, was introduced to O’ahu, when roughly 3,000 fish were released to bolster fishing opportunities and establish a new food source.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The opportunity now is to build on these lessons through closer cooperation across governments, industry, technology and capital in order to create energy systems that can perform reliably as demand and complexity continue to grow.
    — H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of opportunity
Noun
  • Simulations accounting for a 4–6-kilometer-wide grounding zone suggest a 60-percent probability that the glacier will become unpinned from the Mouginot Ridge by the end of the century.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Farther east, including the I-35 corridor and the metroplex, rain chances will generally range from 30–50%, with lower probabilities toward our southeastern counties.
    — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of probability
Noun
  • Dazzle, the new venture, is a personal AI assistant that learns from the photos on a user’s phone, said Mayer.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Founders can also pursue a new business idea if the original venture changes or ends, provided that the new plan meets those standards.
    — Bernardo Saraiva, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of venture
Adjective
  • The task for the printmakers, led by Erik Hougen, Jeremy Ruiz, and Tom Smith, was to reproduce the jottings, corrections, and accidental smears on Safdie’s notecard as faithfully as possible, and also to scale it up in size.
    — Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Good news for Boeing, but could this accidental monopoly be a potential disaster waiting to happen?
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of accidental
Verb
  • To keep returns low, Daunt shops often placed tiny initial orders, a wan show of confidence that risked seeping down to the fragile economy of the writing life.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Michael Platt, a professor of marketing, psychology and neuroscience at the Wharton School, says the answer may lie in how the brain responds to risk, excitement and the promise of a big win.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of risk
Verb
  • His big adult break happened when visiting his sister in San Francisco in 1954.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Researchers can model what happens if copper prices increase sharply or if a newer technology becomes commercially viable years from now.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of happen
Noun
  • These circumstances, too, create a perception of the world as unpredictable and may lead people to seek escape via alcohol or other drugs.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • That's why the exact circumstances of that particular infection remain unclear.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of circumstance

Phrases Containing chance

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champs
chance
chanced
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Cite this Entry

“Chance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chance. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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