chance

1 of 2

noun

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 chancesAlfred 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

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 bridge collapse, like other calamities, is probably the result of overlapping low-probability failures, said Edward Tenner, a historian and expert on disasters — akin to what happens when, by chance, the holes in a stack of Swiss cheese slices line up perfectly. Joel Achenbach, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024 Michigan's aging bridges Michigan also, like many states, is one that has been wrestling with aging roadway infrastructure, including overpass bridges, that construction workers are seeking to fix, especially as the chances of snow diminish and the temperatures warm up. Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2024 Saturday: There is a chance of showers before 8 a.m. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 26 Mar. 2024 However, by focusing only on the CEO (or other senior officers), the board might miss the chance to revisit how the rank and file are compensated. Bruce Shaw, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024 In its Friday update, Richard Pan is still in the lead, but all four candidates have equal chances of making it to the November runoff, said Paul Mitchell, vice president of bipartisan voting data firm Political Data Inc. Theresa Clift, Sacramento Bee, 26 Mar. 2024 At the Pickleball Experience, attendees also had the chance to win tickets to Billboard presents THE STAGE concert series at the Moody Amphitheater. James Dinh, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2024 Cummings, unsurprisingly, saw Brexit in revolutionary terms—as a chance to break with the country’s ruling orthodoxy. Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 This idyllic beach is known for its calm waters and the chance to catch nesting turtles in summer. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
Too many are leaving the search for the right ideas to chance. Keith Ferrazzi, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Don’t leave anything to chance or let anyone get in your way. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024 Here is the format: First OT: Normal period, with both teams chance to score. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2024 Will the second novel follow the formula, or repudiate it and chance something new? Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024 Strategic Asset Protection Approaches Strategic Planning Millionaires don't leave things to chance. Blake Harris, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Papà, to the delight of his own father, would chance into one of the colony’s exceptions—education for those who would become priests—an opportunity even some of Papà’s elder siblings wouldn’t have. Ngofeen Mputubwele, WIRED, 21 Aug. 2023 Chances are, this isn’t your last great idea, business, opportunity or chance to leave your mark. Dr. Eric George, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 That's because farmers don't leave anything to chance. Katherine Bourzac, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of chance was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near chance

Cite this Entry

“Chance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chance. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

chance

1 of 3 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on chance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!