chance

The word “chance” means an opportunity to do something. In plain terms, an opportunity, the odds of something happening, or something that occurs randomly.

“Chance” is pronounced CHAHNS (/ˈt͡ʃeə̯ns/ in IPA).

Here is “chance” used in a sentence: “This internship is her chance to break into the industry.”

Words with a similar meaning to “chance” include come to pass, occur, transpire, come on, come upon and encounter.

Depending on how it is used, “chance” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “chance” comes from Vulgar Latin. From Old French cheance ("luck, accident"), from Vulgar Latin cadentia ("a falling"), from Latin cadere ("to fall" or "to happen") — the same root behind "cadence.".

“Chance” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Chance” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an opportunity to do something.

The two are close, and both mean a favourable moment to act. Opportunity stresses that conditions are right and often that some effort or luck created the opening. Chance can mean the same, but it also carries a sense of randomness or luck — 'by chance' — which opportunity does not.

It can mean both, depending on context. In 'give me a chance,' it means an opportunity to act. In 'we met by chance' or 'the chance of rain,' it means luck, randomness, or probability. The single word covers both a favourable opening and the play of unpredictable events.

A chance is usually a positive opening — a possibility of something good. A risk emphasises the possibility of something going wrong. Both involve uncertainty, but chance leans toward hope and opportunity, while risk leans toward danger or loss. You take a chance hoping to gain, and take a risk aware you might lose.

'This is your chance to shine' uses chance as an opportunity. 'There's a good chance it will rain' uses it as probability, and 'I ran into her by chance' means by luck. The word shifts smoothly between an opening to act and the workings of fortune.