What does chance mean?

Definitions for chance
tʃæns, tʃɑnschance

Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word chance.

Princeton's WordNet(2.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

opportunity, chance(noun)
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
"the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington"; "now is your chance"
luck, fortune, chance, hazard(noun)
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"
chance(noun)
a risk involving danger
"you take a chance when you let her drive"
probability, chance(noun)
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"
prospect, chance(adj)
the possibility of future success
"his prospects as a writer are excellent"
casual, chance(a)(verb)
occurring or appearing or singled out by chance
"seek help from casual passers-by"; "a casual meeting"; "a chance occurrence"
chance(verb)
be the case by chance
"I chanced to meet my old friend in the street"
gamble, chance, risk, hazard, take chances, adventure, run a risk, take a chance(verb)
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
"When you buy these stocks you are gambling"
find, happen, chance, bump, encounter(verb)
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(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

chance(Noun)
An opportunity or possibility.
We have the chance
chance(Noun)
Random occurrence; luck.
Why leave it to chance when a few simple steps will secure the desired outcome?
chance(Noun)
The probability of something happening.
There is a 30% chance of rain tomorrow.
chance(Verb)
To happen by chance, to occur.
It chanced that I found a solution the very next day.
chance(Verb)
To try or risk.
Shall we carry the umbrella, or chance it?
chance(Verb)
To discover something by chance.
He chanced upon a kindly stranger who showed him the way.
chance(Adjective)
happening by chance, casual
Chance(ProperNoun)
, an American pet form of Chauncey, in modern usage also associated with the word chance.

Origin: From cheance, from cadentia, from cado.

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

Chance(noun)
a supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; -- in this sense often personified
Chance(noun)
the operation or activity of such agent
Chance(noun)
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
Chance(noun)
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
Chance(noun)
probability
Chance(verb)
to happen, come, or arrive, without design or expectation
Chance(verb)
to take the chances of; to venture upon; -- usually with it as object
Chance(verb)
to befall; to happen to
Chance(adj)
happening by chance; casual
Chance(adverb)
by chance; perchance

Origin: [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:

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:

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.]

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

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

British National Corpus

Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'chance' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #781
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'chance' in Written Corpus Frequency: #759
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'chance' in Nouns Frequency: #243

Numerology

Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of chance in Chaldean Numerology is: 4
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of chance in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7