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chance - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'chance' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Chance [ a.]
- Happening by chance; casual.
2 . Chance [ adv.]
- By chance; perchance.
3 . Chance [ n.]
- A supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; -- in this sense often personified.
- The operation or activity of such agent.
- 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.
- 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.
- Probability.
4 . Chance [ v. i.]
- To happen, come, or arrive, without design or expectation.
5 . Chance [ v. t.]
- To take the chances of; to venture upon; -- usually with it as object.
- To befall; to happen to.

Meaning of 'chance' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . chance [ n]
Meaning (1):
- an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
Example in sentence:
  • bad luck caused his downfall;
  • we ran into each other by pure chance
Meaning (2):
- the possibility of future success
Example in sentence:
  • his prospects as a writer are excellent
Meaning (3):
- 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
Example in sentence:
  • if that phone call is for me, chances are it's my wife;
  • the probability that an unbiased coin will fall with the head up is 0.5
Meaning (4):
- a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
Example in sentence:
  • now is your chance;
  • the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington
Meaning (5):
- a risk involving danger
Example in sentence:
  • you take a chance when you let her drive
6 . chance [ v]
Meaning (6):
- be the case by chance
Example in sentence:
  • I chanced to meet my old friend in the street
Meaning (7):
- come upon, as if by accident; meet with
Example in sentence:
  • I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here;
  • She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day;
  • We find this idea in Plato
Meaning (8):
- take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
Example in sentence:
  • When you buy these stocks you are gambling
9 . chance [ s]
Meaning (9):
- occurring or appearing or singled out by chance
Example in sentence:
  • a casual meeting;
  • a chance occurrence;
  • seek help from casual passers-by

Nearby Words:

chab chabasite chablis chabouk chabuk chace chachalaca chacma chaconne chad

See 'chance' also in:

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