chance
Chance is defined as happening by unexplainable reasons, luck, a risk, or the likelihood of something happening.
(noun)- An example of chance is winning the lottery.
- An example of chance is taking the risk that you won't be infected by a disease to which you are exposed.
- An example of chance is a nine out of ten opportunity that someone is going to win an election.
Chance means to happen by luck or fortune.
(verb)An example of chance is to find an expensive piece of jewelry while hiking in the woods.
The definition of chance is accidental or not expected or planned.
(adjective)An example of chance is to unexpectedly encounter an old friend at an airport in a country in which you are traveling on vacation.
See chance in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- the happening of events without apparent cause, or the apparent absence of cause or design; fortuity; luck: to leave things to chance
- an unpredictable event or accidental happening
- a risk or gamble
- a ticket in a lottery or raffle
- an advantageous or opportune time or occasion; opportunity: you'll have a chance to go
- a possibility or probability: there is little chance of success; what are their chances of winning?
- Archaic a mishap; mischance
- ☆ Baseball an opportunity to field a ball on which a fielder is credited with a putout or assist, or charged with an error
Origin: ME chaunce < OFr cheance < VL cadentia, that which falls out < L cadens, prp. of cadere, to fall: see case
adjective
intransitive verb chanced, chancing
- to have the fortune, good or bad: I chanced to see them
- to happen by chance
transitive verb
See chance in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- a. The unknown and unpredictable element in happenings that seems to have no assignable cause.b. A force assumed to cause events that cannot be foreseen or controlled; luck: Chance will determine the outcome.
- The likelihood of something happening; possibility or probability. Often used in the plural: Chances are good that you will win. Is there any chance of rain?
- An accidental or unpredictable event.
- A favorable set of circumstances; an opportunity: a chance to escape.
- A risk or hazard; a gamble: took a chance that the ice would hold me.
- Games A raffle or lottery ticket.
- Baseball An opportunity to make a putout or an assist that counts as an error if unsuccessful.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English, unexpected event
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *cadentia
Origin: , from Latin cadēns, cadent-
Origin: , present participle of cadere, to fall, befall; see kad- in Indo-European roots
.See chance in Ologies
Chance
See also gambling.
casualism
the doctrine that events are ruled by chance.
a chance happening. See also injury.
a chance happening or coincidence. See also agreement.
fortuitism
the doctrine that chance is involved in natural events rather than absolute determinism. See also evolution. —fortuist, n.
a chance event, discovery, or occurrence. —fortuitousness, n. —fortuitous, adj.
the condition of being uncertain or unstable. —lubricious, adj.
a talent for making fortunate discoveries while searching for other things. —serendipitous, adj.
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