Meaning of chance in English

Table of contents

Verb
chance
Definitions
1. be the case by chance
Examples
- « I chanced to meet my old friend in the street »
Derived terms
2. take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
Examples
- « When you buy these stocks you are gambling »
Derived terms
3. come upon, as if by accident
Examples
- « 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 »
Derived terms
Noun
chance
Etymology
Middle English: from Old French cheance, from cheoir‘fall, befall’, based on Latin cadere
Definitions
1. a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
Examples
- « the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington »
- « now is your chance »
2. an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
Examples
- « bad luck caused his downfall »
- « we ran into each other by pure chance »
Derived terms
3. a risk involving danger
Examples
- « you take a chance when you let her drive »
Derived terms
4. a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur
Examples
- « what is the probability of rain? »
- « we have a good chance of winning »

Famous quotes

« If men are honest, everything they do and everywhere they go is for a chance to see women. »
Jack Nicholson
« If you wish in this world to advance your merits you're bound to enhance You must stir it and stump it, and blow your own trumpet, Or, trust me, you haven't a chance. »
William Gilbert
« Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance? »
Phyllis Diller
« I do interviews because it's a chance to be myself. I sometimes wonder what I could have to say that would be of any interest. I don't have any great wisdom. »
Parker Stevenson
« A problem is a chance for you to do your best. »
Duke Ellington