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 chances …—
Alfred Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson2
: 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
chanced; chancing
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
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
Synonyms
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
Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
An actor by profession, Lloyd had been coached for the deception by a magician called Jenny Winstanley, who originally hoped to join the Magic Circle herself, but thought Lloyd would stand a better chance of making the trick work.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024
Walter Scheidel, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2022
Plus, the wise leave neither their hearts nor their children’s custody to chance.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 23 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for chance 
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Noun
Canceled after one season, the series never got the chance to ratchet up the tension.
—Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
An actor by profession, Lloyd had been coached for the deception by a magician called Jenny Winstanley, who originally hoped to join the Magic Circle herself, but thought Lloyd would stand a better chance of making the trick work.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
In 1519, Hernán Cortés’s conquistadors chanced on Tlaxcala, in central Mexico, a republic run by a council that convened popular assemblies to deliberate about public affairs.
—Walter Scheidel, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2022
Plus, the wise leave neither their hearts nor their children’s custody to chance.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 23 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for chance
Articles Related to chance
Dictionary Entries Near chance
Cite this Entry
“Chance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chance. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chance
1 of 3 noun1
: 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
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