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chance
/tʃæns/
opportunity or possibility
I got the chance to travel to Japan last year.
I had the opportunity to visit Japan in the past year.
general
a possibility of something happening
There's a good chance it will rain tomorrow.
It is very likely that it will rain tomorrow.
Used to express probability or likelihood.
general
an opportunity to do something
Don't miss your chance to see the concert!
Take advantage of the opportunity to attend the concert.
Often used in motivational or urgent contexts.
general
the occurrence of events in a way that seems accidental or unplanned
We met by chance at the coffee shop.
We unexpectedly met at the coffee shop.
Implies a lack of intention or design.
Law
formal
a risk or gamble
He took a chance on the new business venture.
He gambled on the success of the new business.
Common in legal or financial contexts to describe risk-taking.
Collocations
by chanceunexpectedly or accidentallytake a chancerisk something for a potential benefitsecond chanceanother opportunity after a failurefair chancea reasonable likelihoodno chanceimpossible or very unlikely
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish 'chance' and 'opportunity'
'Chance' often implies luck or accident, while 'opportunity' suggests a planned or earned possibility. Compare: 'I had the chance to meet her' vs. 'I earned the opportunity to meet her.'
Gold Rule
Use 'chance' for unexpected events
When describing unplanned or accidental occurrences, use 'chance' (e.g., 'We met by chance'). Avoid using it for deliberate actions.
Word Origin
From Old French 'cheance' (fortune, chance), from 'cheoir' (to fall), from Latin 'cadere' (to fall). Originally meant 'something that falls to one' in the sense of fortune or fate.
Usage Notes
Chance can be used as a noun (e.g., 'a chance to succeed') or a verb (e.g., 'I chanced upon an old book'). As a verb, it often implies accidental discovery.
Word Breakdown
chance
opportunity or possibility
rootEnglish Dictionary