chance

/tʃɑ:ns/

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Thân thiện

A child finds a lucky penny by chance.

Definition

Noun:
- A possibility of something happening: "Chance" refers to the likelihood or probability of an event occurring.
- An opportunity: "Chance" can mean a favorable time or set of circumstances for doing something.
- The unknown and unpredictable element of happenings: "Chance" describes the force that causes things to happen without apparent cause or planning; luck or fortune.
- A risk or gamble: "Chance" can refer to a situation involving uncertainty and potential danger.
Verb:
- To happen or occur by accident: "Chance" means to take place or be found without planning or intent.
- To risk: "Chance" means to do something despite the possibility of an undesirable outcome.
Adjective:
- Happening by accident; not planned: "Chance" describes something that is casual, fortuitous, or unplanned.

Examples of Usage

Noun:
- There is a chance of rain tomorrow. (This refers to the possibility.)
- Winning the scholarship was the chance of a lifetime. (This refers to an opportunity.)
- We met by pure chance. (This refers to luck or fortune.)
- Investing in a new company is always a chance. (This refers to a risk.)
Verb:
- I chanced to see her at the market yesterday. (This means I happened to see her.)
- He decided to chance it and ask for a raise. (This means he decided to risk it.)
Adjective:
- It was a chance encounter that changed my life. (This describes an unplanned meeting.)

Advanced Usage

"by any chance": used to ask a question politely.
- Are you, by any chance, free this evening?
"by chance": accidentally; without planning.
- I found this old photo by chance while cleaning.
"on the off chance": in the slight hope or possibility that something might be the case or happen.
- I called his office on the off chance he was still there.
"stand a chance": to have a possibility of succeeding.
- Our team doesn't stand a chance against the champions.

Variants and Related Words

Chancy (adj): uncertain; risky.
- The weather looks chancy for our picnic.
Chanceful (adj, archaic): eventful; full of risk.

Synonyms

Related Phrasal Verbs

Chance on/upon: to find or meet someone or something by accident.
- She chanced upon a rare book in a small shop.
Chance one's arm (idiomatic): to take a risk in order to achieve something.
- He decided to chance his arm and apply for the managerial position.

Related Idioms

A fat chance / A slim chance: used to say that something is very unlikely.
- "He'll apologize." "A fat chance!" (Meaning it's very unlikely.)
Take a chance: to decide to do something even though it involves risk.
- I decided to take a chance and invest my savings.
Leave things to chance: to not plan or control events, but let them happen naturally.
- We didn't make reservations; we're leaving things to chance.

A child finds a lucky penny by chance.

Adjective

occurring or appearing or singled out by chance
- seek help from casual passers-by
- a casual meeting
- a chance occurrence

Noun

the possibility of future success
- his prospects as a writer are excellent
a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible
- the probability that an unbiased coin will fall with the head up is 0.5
a risk involving danger
- you take a chance when you let her drive
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
- bad luck caused his downfall
- we ran into each other by pure chance
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
- the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington
- now is your chance

Verb

come upon, as if by accident; meet with
- We find this idea in Plato
- I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here
- She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
- When you buy these stocks you are gambling
be the case by chance
- I chanced to meet my old friend in the street

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