Meaning of chance In English

• 0 an occasion that allows something to be done:

  • I didn't get/have a chance to speak to her.

  • [ + to infinitive ] If you give me a chance to speak, I'll explain.

  • Society has to give prisoners a second chance when they come out of jail.

  • He left and I missed my chance to say goodbye to him.

  • I'd go now given half a chance (= if I had the slightest opportunity).

• 1 the level of possibility that something will happen:

  • You'd have a better chance/more chance of passing your exams if you worked a bit harder.

  • [ + (that) ] There's a good chance (that) I'll have this essay finished by tomorrow.

  • There's a slim/slight chance (that) I might have to go to Manchester next week.

  • If we hurry, there's still an outside (= very small) chance of catching the plane.

  • "Is there any chance of speaking to him?" "Not a/No chance, I'm afraid."

  • I don't think I stand/have a chance of winning.

  • UK John thinks they're in with a chance (= they have a possibility of doing or getting what they want).

  • Her resignation has improved my chances of promotion.

  • What are her chances of survival?

  • [ + that ] What are the chances that they'll win?

• 2 a possibility that something negative will happen:

  • I'm delivering my work by hand - I'm not taking any chances.

  • There's a chance of injury in almost any sport.

• 3 the force that causes things to happen without any known cause or reason for doing so:

  • Roulette is a game of chance.

  • I got this job completely by chance.

  • [ + (that) ] It was pure/sheer chance (that) we met.

  • We must double-check everything and leave nothing to chance.

  • Are you Hungarian, by any chance?

  • Could you lend me a couple of pounds, by any chance?

  • You wouldn't, by any chance, have a calculator on you, would you?

• 4 to risk something:

  • You'd be a fool to chance your life savings on a single investment.

• 5 to happen or do something by chance:

  • [ + to infinitive ] They chanced to be in the restaurant when I arrived.

  • I chanced on/upon (= found unexpectedly) some old love letters in a drawer.

  • Ten years after leaving school, we chanced on/upon (= unexpectedly met) each other in Regent Street.

• 6 happening in a way that is not planned or does not have any known cause or reason:

  • Her chance discovery of the letters led to their publication.

  • a chance meeting/encounter

• 7 an occasion that allows something to be done; an opportunity:

  • If you get a chance, come over and see me.

  • You had many chances to back out of the deal, and you didn’t do it.

  • She’d been a substitute on the team, and she wanted a chance to play every day.

• 8 a level of possibility that something will happen; likelihood:

  • I’ve applied to seven different universities, and there’s a good chance I’ll get into two of them.

• 9 a possibility that something bad will happen; a risk:

  • There’s a chance of injury in almost any sport.

  • You don’t get anywhere in life without taking chances.

• 10 the happening of something in a way that no one could have known, so that it seems to have no cause:

  • Four years ago we met by chance in Paris.

  • Do you by any chance know when the last bus leaves tonight?

• 11 to do something although it involves risk:

  • It’s a very popular restaurant, and we may not get a table, but let’s chance it.

• 12 to happen or find something in a way that is not planned or expected:

  • I chanced upon some old love letters in a drawer.