chances 1 of 2

noun

Definition of chancesnext
plural of chance
1
as in luck
the uncertain course of events rather than leave everything to chance, let's plan how we're going to spend our time in New York City

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opportunities
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place this is my one chance to succeed

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3
as in probabilities
a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another the chance of being struck by lightning is very low

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4
as in ventures
a risky undertaking it's a chance, but I think the business will be profitable

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of chance
1
as in risks
to take a chance on I don't think we should chance driving in this snowstorm

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2
as in happens
to take place there chanced to be a beautiful day when we were touring that part of Scotland

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chances
  1. luck
  2. opportunities
  3. probabilities
  4. happens
  5. circumstances
  6. does
  7. accidents
Noun
  • The curse of the Grand Slam floater One of these days Naomi Osaka’s luck with Grand Slam draws is going to change, but Thursday was not that day.
    Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
  • New research on mice indicates that early life luck can influence adult success, particularly in competitive environments.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Jan. 2025
Definition of luck
Noun
  • What Happens Next The active period is expected to last for at least another year, meaning there could be more opportunities to see the northern lights in 2025, even for more southern locations.
    George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Active players could step onto mascots’ turf as NIL opportunities advance and schools become capable of directly paying their athletes for promotional support.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of opportunities
Noun
  • The best scenario for snow on the ground on Christmas Day would be in a region highlighted in white, where probabilities exceed 90%.
    Meredith Garofalo, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2024
  • This shift in perspective allowed the Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann to reframe and sharpen the idea of entropy using probabilities.
    Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of probabilities
Verb
  • Weird stuff happens in those, just like Notre Dame at USC on the same weekend.
    Seth Emerson, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Bubble butt syndrome usually happens after a boat strike, which can cause deformities in the shell and trap pockets of air within it.
    Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of happens
Noun
  • Older Americans — who’ve worked hard all our lives — shouldn’t be pushed out onto the streets, forced to go without sufficient food or health care due to unfortunate circumstances.
    Sherlea Dony, Sun Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Multilateral organizations may also need clear protocols outlining who can access confidential materials, under what circumstances, and for how long.
    Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of circumstances
Verb
  • In a town that does things by the book, Urban is intent on trying new things, tinkering around with formula.
    Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Society establishes a tax that if AI does the right thing, it is taxed lightly.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of does
Noun
  • During his tenure, the Federal Railroad Administration audited the railways in the wake of two fatal accidents in 2021 and 2022.
    Zach Everson, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Racing is hard, and accidents happen.
    Roberto Baldwin, Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2024
Definition of accidents
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near chances

chancers

chances

chances (upon)

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Cite this Entry

“Chances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chances. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chances

Nglish: Translation of chances for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of chances for Arabic Speakers

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