chance
chance — noun
1. a time or situation in which you can do something that you want to do
a time or situation in which you can do something that you want to do
Leila finally got a chance to visit her grandmother in Japan last spring.
chance + to-infinitive for opportunity
The coach gave each player a chance to prove their skills during the match.
collocation: give someone a chance
Rohan missed his chance to try out for the school basketball team.
collocation: miss your chance
If you ever get the chance to visit Taipei, you should go to the night markets.
Aiko saw the internship as a perfect chance to learn about graphic design.
- get a chance
- have a chance
- give someone a chance
- miss a chance
- take the chance
- a chance to + infinitive
- opportunity
more neutral and planned; less dependent on luck or timing
- occasion
more formal; emphasizes the specific time or event
Grammar Patterns
chance + to-infinitive
Common Mistakes
2. the degree to which something is likely to happen or be true
the degree to which something is likely to happen or be true
There is a good chance that Priya will receive the scholarship this year.
chance + that-clause for probability
Diego's chances of winning the race improved after months of hard training.
chance of + noun/-ing
What are the chances of finding a taxi near the stadium after the concert?
The doctor said there was a very good chance that she would make a full recovery.
chance + that-clause for prediction
Yusuf knew his chance of passing the exam was low, so he studied every evening.
- chances of
- good chance
- high chance
- slim chance
- little chance
- stand a chance
- probability
more technical or mathematical; used in statistics
- likelihood
slightly more formal; used in academic or professional contexts
- odds
often used in betting or competition contexts
Grammar Patterns
chance + that-clause
chance + of + noun/-ing
Usage Note
When used with a that-clause ('the chance that…'), the focus is on whether something will happen. When used with 'of' ('the chance of something'), the focus is on the likelihood of a situation.
Common Mistakes
3. the possibility that something unwanted or dangerous will happen, especially whe
the possibility that something unwanted or dangerous will happen, especially when you decide to act despite knowing this
Esteban knew there was a chance of losing money, but he still made the investment.
chance of + negative outcome
Nadia took a chance and drove through the flooded road to get home faster.
collocation: take a chance
The rescue team understood that the chance of an avalanche was high in that area.
We cannot take the chance of arriving late for such an important interview.
Fatima knew there was a chance the bridge would collapse, but she crossed anyway.
chance + that-clause for negative outcome
- take a chance
- chance of failure
- chance of injury
- run the chance of
- safety
freedom from risk or danger
Grammar Patterns
chance of + noun/-ing
take a chance
Usage Note
This sense always carries a negative expectation. 'Take a chance' usually means accepting the risk of a bad outcome, though the phrase also appears in positive gambles ('take a chance on love').
4. the way that events happen without any plan or control, so that their outcome de
the way that events happen without any plan or control, so that their outcome depends on unpredictable factors rather than on someone's design
Mei and Wei met purely by chance at a small coffee shop in central Taipei.
collocation: by chance
It was pure chance that the ambulance arrived just when Noa needed it.
collocation: pure chance
Ola left nothing to chance and planned every single detail of the wedding.
collocation: leave nothing to chance
By some strange chance, both sisters chose the same colour dress for the party.
The two friends met again after twenty years through pure chance.
collocation: through pure chance
- by chance
- pure chance
- sheer chance
- leave to chance
- matter of chance
- luck
more personal; can be good or bad depending on context
- fate
suggests a predetermined outcome, not random
- coincidence
an event that happens by chance, especially two things at the same time
Grammar Patterns
by chance
pure chance
leave something to chance
Usage Note
'By chance' is the most common fixed phrase. 'Pure chance' and 'sheer chance' emphasize that no planning was involved. Unlike the opportunity sense (sense 1), this sense is uncountable and cannot take an article.
Common Mistakes
5. used in polite questions or requests, often when you think the answer might be '
used in polite questions or requests, often when you think the answer might be 'no' or when you do not want to sound too direct
Do you by any chance know where the nearest subway station is?
polite question formula: by any chance
You would not by any chance have an extra pen I could borrow for the test?
Are you by any chance related to the woman who owns the bakery on Elm Street?
Is this by any chance the blue jacket you left in the library last Tuesday?
- by any chance
- perhaps
similar level of politeness, but placed differently in the sentence
Grammar Patterns
by any chance (in polite questions)
Usage Note
'By any chance' almost always appears in questions. It makes the question sound less demanding and more polite, similar to 'perhaps' or 'maybe' in English.
Common Mistakes
Used to describe something that happened in a lucky or unplanned way.
As chance would have it, I found my lost keys in the sofa.
We met at the airport, as chance would have it, and flew together.
To have a possibility of succeeding or achieving something.
Maya is in with a chance of winning the art competition.
Do you think our team is in with a chance of reaching the finals?
by any chance
idiomUsed in questions to ask if something is true or possible.
Are you by any chance free for lunch tomorrow?
Could you by any chance lend me your bicycle for an hour?
It is likely that something will happen or is true.
The chances are that it will rain this afternoon.
The chances are she has already left for the airport.
Used to express that you would like something to happen but think it is unlikely.
"I wish I could take a vacation." "Chance would be a fine thing!"
He said he'd help, but chance would be a fine thing.
Used to say that you do not believe something is likely to happen.
Fat chance of getting a refund without a receipt.
"Maybe he'll apologize." "Fat chance of that!"
a fighting chance
idiomA small but real possibility of success if you try very hard.
The team still has a fighting chance to win the game.
With proper treatment, she has a fighting chance of recovery.
To give someone or something an opportunity to do something, often with a warning.
Give him half a chance and he'll talk your ear off.
That plant will grow quickly if you give it half a chance.
To be equally likely to succeed or fail at something.
She has an even chance of getting the job.
The horse has an even chance of winning the race.
no chance
idiomUsed to say that something is impossible or very unlikely.
"Can you finish this by tomorrow?" "No chance."
No chance of finding a seat now; the theater is full.
To have no chance at all of doing something.
He doesn't have a cat in hell's chance of passing the test.
Without funding, the project stands a cat in hell's chance.
To have no chance at all of succeeding.
She hasn't a dog's chance of winning the lottery.
Against such a strong opponent, he didn't have a dog's chance.
To have no chance at all of happening or succeeding.
There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that he'll agree.
She doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of finishing on time.
Because of a slight possibility that something might happen, even though it is unlikely.
I checked my email on the off chance she had replied.
He went to the party on the off chance of meeting someone new.
a sporting chance
idiomA reasonable chance of success or a fair opportunity.
With a bit of luck, we have a sporting chance of winning.
The underdog was given a sporting chance to compete.
To have a possibility of succeeding or achieving something.
Without practice, you don't stand a chance of winning.
Does our proposal stand a chance of being accepted?
To decide to do something even though it might not succeed.
We took a chance on the new restaurant and it was great.
I'll take a chance and apply for the job despite my lack of experience.
take your chances
idiomTo accept a risk and hope for a good outcome.
He took his chances and invested in the startup.
You have to take your chances if you want to succeed.
Always looking for opportunities to gain personal advantage.
She is always with an eye to the main chance at work.
He made friends with an eye on the main chance, not out of kindness.
chance — verb
1. to do something even though you know that something bad might happen as a result
to do something even though you know that something bad might happen as a result
Amina decided to chance the storm and drive home through the heavy rain.
chance + direct object (the thing risked)
Quinn knew the plan was risky but was still willing to chance it.
collocation: chance it
We cannot chance being late for such an important job interview.
chance + -ing for risky action
Rashida chanced a quick swim in the river despite the warning signs nearby.
- chance it
- chance your luck
- risk
more common as a verb; 'chance' is slightly more informal
- avoid
to stay away from a risk deliberately
Grammar Patterns
chance + noun
chance + -ing
Usage Note
This verb is less common than the noun senses. The fixed phrase 'chance it' (meaning 'take the risk') is the most frequent use in everyday conversation.
2. to happen or find something without intending or planning to
to happen or find something without intending or planning to
Wen chanced upon an old photograph of her grandmother while cleaning the attic.
chance upon + noun (find by accident)
Yara chanced to meet her former teacher while waiting for a flight in Singapore.
chance + to-infinitive (happen to)
On their walk through the woods, the children chanced across a small hidden lake.
Sven chanced to be sitting next to the famous author on the train to Berlin.
- chance upon
- chance on
- chance across
- chance to meet
- happen to
more common in everyday speech; less formal
- come across
common for finding things by accident
- stumble upon
similar meaning, slightly more dramatic
Grammar Patterns
chance + to-infinitive
chance upon/on/across + noun
Usage Note
This verb is fairly formal and more common in written English than in speech. In conversation, 'happen to' or 'come across' are more natural alternatives. 'Chance upon' and 'chance across' mean 'find by accident'.
chance — adjective
1. happening without being planned or intended, often bringing an unexpected result
happening without being planned or intended, often bringing an unexpected result
Theo and Beatriz had a chance encounter at a busy market in Marrakesh.
collocation: chance encounter
A chance discovery in the old library led to an important historical finding.
collocation: chance discovery
Hiro's chance remark about the budget made everyone stop and reconsider.
The two old friends enjoyed a chance reunion at a conference in Seoul last year.
- chance encounter
- chance meeting
- chance discovery
- chance remark
- chance reunion
- accidental
stronger emphasis on the lack of intention; slightly more formal
- unexpected
focuses on surprise rather than lack of planning
- random
informal; suggests no pattern or reason at all
- planned
deliberately arranged or intended
- intentional
done on purpose
Usage Note
This adjective is always used before a noun (attributive position). You cannot say 'the meeting was chance' — instead say 'the meeting was by chance' (adverb) or 'the meeting was a chance encounter/adjective + noun'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- chancyadjectiveC1
- happenstancenounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
'Chance' and 'opportunity' are very close, but 'chance' often suggests that luck or timing plays a part ('a chance to meet the CEO'), while 'opportunity' feels more neutral and can be actively created ('a job opportunity you applied for'). 'Occasion' is more formal and focuses on a specific time that is appropriate for something ('a special occasion for a celebration'). 'Opening' suggests a gap or vacancy that creates the possibility ('an opening in the sales team'). In everyday conversation, 'chance' and 'opportunity' are the most common. 'Chance' is slightly less formal and works well in spoken English — for example, 'I finally got a chance to see that film.' 'Opportunity' is a good choice in written or professional language — for example, 'This position is a great opportunity for career growth.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- chance encounter
- chance meeting
- chance discovery
- chance remark
- chance reunion
Adverbs
- purely by chance
- quite by chance
- by any chance
- by some strange chance
Phrases
- by chance
- on the off chance
- leave nothing to chance
- stand a chance
- take a chance
Prepositions
- chance of
- chance for
- chance at
Etymology
The word 'chance' comes from the Old French 'cheance', meaning 'the way something falls' or 'luck'. This traces back to the Latin verb 'cadere', which means 'to fall'. The original image is of dice falling onto a table — the outcome determined by how they land rather than by any plan. Over time this meaning expanded beyond gambling to describe any event that happens without design or intention. The adjective use, meaning 'unplanned', developed in the 16th century.