by chance

Friendly

Definition of "by chance": The phrase "by chance" means something that happens accidentally or without any planning. It suggests that the event was not intended or expected.

Usage Instructions:

• "By chance" is used as an adverb.
• It often describes situations where two people meet, find something, or experience an event unexpectedly.

Examples:

1. Simple Example:

   • "I met my old friend by chance at the park."
   • (This means you did not plan to meet your friend; it just happened.)

2. Advanced Example:

   • "She found the book she had been looking for by chance while browsing the library."
   • (This means she discovered the book unexpectedly.)

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "by chance," but it can be used in different tenses and contexts, such as:
  • "Did you happen to see him by chance?"
  • "They encountered each other by chance during their vacation."

Different Meanings:

• "By chance" can imply luck or coincidence. For example:
  • "It was just by chance that I won the lottery."
  • (This suggests that winning was unexpected and not planned.)

Synonyms:

• Accidentally
• Fortuitously
• Unexpectedly
• Haphazardly

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "By the way": This phrase is not a direct synonym for "by chance," but it can be used to introduce something that comes to mind unexpectedly or incidentally.
• "Take a chance": This means to do something risky or uncertain, which is different from "by chance," but related in the idea of uncertainty.

Summary:

"By chance" refers to events that happen accidentally, without planning. It's a useful phrase to describe unexpected meetings, discoveries, or occurrences.

Academic

Adverb

1. without advance planning
   • they met accidentally
2. by accident
   • betrayed by a word haply overheard
3. through chance, "To sleep, perchance to dream.."

Synonyms

• accidentally
• circumstantially
• unexpectedly
• haply
• by luck
• perchance