chance synonyms

chance

modif.

accidental, unplanned, unintentional, random; see accidental 1, aimless, haphazard, random. See syn. study at random.

chance

n.

  1. The powers of uncertainty

    fate, fortune, fortuity, hazard, lot, accident, luck, good luck, bad luck, destiny, outcome, cast, lottery, gamble, hap, adventure, contingency, coincidence, serendipity, randomness, blind chance, kismet, happening, future, doom, occurrence, happenstance*, the breaks*, hit*, Lady Luck*, Dame Fortune*, turn of the cards*, the way the cookie crumbles*, hazard of the dice*, luck of the draw*, heads or tails*; see also accident 2.

    Antonyms aim, purpose*, design. *

  2. A possibility

    opening, occasion, prospect, turn; see opportunity 1, possibility 2, timeliness.

  3. An uncertainty

    venture, gamble, speculation; see bet, risk 2, uncertainty 3.

  4. Probability; often plural

    likelihood, possibility, odds, indications; see probability.

by chance

by accident, as it happens, unexpectedly; see accidentally.

on the (off) chance

in case, in the event that, supposing; see if.

chance

v.

  1. To happen

    come to pass, befall, occur; see happen 2.

  2. To take a chance

    venture, stake, hazard, risk, wager, gamble, try, attempt, jeopardize, speculate, tempt fate, tempt fortune, trust to chance, trust to luck, run the risk, try one's luck, play with fire*, take a shot in the dark*, take a leap in the dark*, buy a pig in a poke*, go out on a limb*, chance one's luck*, chance it*, have a fling at*, take a fling at*, put all one's eggs in one basket*, skate on thin ice*, stick one's neck out*; see also gamble 1, risk. See syn. study at happen.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.