Definitions for chance
tʃæns, tʃɑnschance

Princeton's WordNet(3.25 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. opportunity, chancenoun

   a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

   "the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington"; "now is your chance"

2. luck, fortune, chance, hazardnoun

   an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

   "bad luck caused his downfall"; "we ran into each other by pure chance"

3. chancenoun

   a risk involving danger

   "you take a chance when you let her drive"

4. probability, chancenoun

   a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible

   "the probability that an unbiased coin will fall with the head up is 0.5"

5. prospect, chanceadjective

   the possibility of future success

   "his prospects as a writer are excellent"

6. casual, chance(a)verb

   occurring or appearing or singled out by chance

   "seek help from casual passers-by"; "a casual meeting"; "a chance occurrence"

7. chanceverb

   be the case by chance

   "I chanced to meet my old friend in the street"

8. gamble, chance, risk, hazard, take chances, adventure, run a risk, take a chanceverb

   take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

   "When you buy these stocks you are gambling"

9. find, happen, chance, bump, encounterverb

   come upon, as if by accident; meet with

   "We find this idea in Plato"; "I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here"; "She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. chancenoun

   An opportunity or possibility.

   We have the chance

   Etymology: From cheance, from cadentia, from cado.

2. chancenoun

   Random occurrence; luck.

   Why leave it to chance when a few simple steps will secure the desired outcome?

   Etymology: From cheance, from cadentia, from cado.

3. chancenoun

   The probability of something happening.

   There is a 30% chance of rain tomorrow.

   Etymology: From cheance, from cadentia, from cado.

4. chanceverb

   To happen by chance, to occur.

   It chanced that I found a solution the very next day.

   Etymology: From cheance, from cadentia, from cado.

5. chanceverb

   To try or risk.

   Shall we carry the umbrella, or chance it?

   Etymology: From cheance, from cadentia, from cado.

6. chanceverb

   To discover something by chance.

   He chanced upon a kindly stranger who showed him the way.

   Etymology: From cheance, from cadentia, from cado.

7. chanceadjective

   happening by chance, casual

   Etymology: From cheance, from cadentia, from cado.

8. Chancenoun

   A male given name from English, an American pet form of Chauncey, in modern usage also associated with the word chance.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Chancenoun

   a supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; -- in this sense often personified

   Etymology: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

2. Chancenoun

   the operation or activity of such agent

   Etymology: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

3. Chancenoun

   the supposed effect of such an agent; something that befalls, as the result of unknown or unconsidered forces; the issue of uncertain conditions; an event not calculated upon; an unexpected occurrence; a happening; accident; fortuity; casualty

   Etymology: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

4. Chancenoun

   a possibility; a likelihood; an opportunity; -- with reference to a doubtful result; as, a chance to escape; a chance for life; the chances are all against him

   Etymology: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

5. Chancenoun

   probability

   Etymology: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

6. Chanceverb

   to happen, come, or arrive, without design or expectation

   Etymology: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

7. Chanceverb

   to take the chances of; to venture upon; -- usually with it as object

   Etymology: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

8. Chanceverb

   to befall; to happen to

   Etymology: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

9. Chanceadjective

   happening by chance; casual

   Etymology: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

10. Chanceadverb

    by chance; perchance

    Etymology: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Chance

   Chance is an album released in 1980 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Chance

   chans, n. that which falls out or happens: an unexpected event: risk: opportunity: possibility of something happening: probability: (pl.) misfortunes.—v.t. to risk.—v.i. to happen.—adj. happening by chance.—adv. perchance.—n. Chance′-com′er, one who comes by chance or unexpectedly.—adjs. Chance′ful (Spens.), full of risk or danger, hazardous; Chanc′y (coll.), lucky, bringing good luck: also risky, uncertain.—By chance, accidentally; Even chance, the probability being equally for or against.—How chance? (Shak.) how does it happen that?—Stand a good chance, to have a reasonable expectation; Take one's chance, to accept what happens: to risk an undertaking; The main chance, the chief object (often used of matrimony): what is most important. [O. Fr. cheance—Low L. cadentia—L. cadĕre, to fall.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. chance

   An opportunity or possibility.

   There was always a chance that they could get married before the date they set as they so knew they were going to be a partnership for life.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 16, 2020  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. chance

   Song lyrics by chance -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by chance on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Happen
   • Possibility
   • Risk

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'chance' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #781

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'chance' in Written Corpus Frequency: #759

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'chance' in Nouns Frequency: #243

How to pronounce chance?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say chance in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of chance in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of chance in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of chance in a Sentence

1. Jacques Maritain:

   We are not the same persons this year as last nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.

2. Bob Melvin:

   The expectation level is really high for us late in games, i think any time we get in a position where we feel like we have a chance to win the game here at home with the last at-bat, we always feel good about it.

3. Larissa Antoniesse:

   I never say never so we could be surprised, kaiser Family Foundation doesn't seem like there's a strong chance for expansion in those states.

4. Musin Almat Zhumabekovich:

   Too much truth is the style of a drunken master, intoxicated with the sweet wine of philosophical poetry, a comical third eye, whose power of thought will break the stone of stupidity and the ice of indifference. Developed dexterity of thought, manipulates the fighting techniques of the aphorisms of a drunken master, leaving no chance. Loneliness enhances the force of the blow, its depth of thought, piercing consciousness and subconsciousness, piercing the infinity of time.

5. Mike Garappo:

   We’re prepared, we’ve dealt with fires living in the mountains forever. We know there’s a chance it may not hit here, but we’re ready to go in case.

Images & Illustrations of chance

Popularity rank by frequency of use