Chance has 14 different meanings across 4 categories:
Noun · Verb · Adjective · Proper Noun
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
"the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington"
"now is your chance"
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"
"if that phone call is for me, chances are it's my wife"
An opportunity or possibility.
"You should take advantage of this rare chance to visit Paris before your visa expires."
In plain English: Chance is an unexpected event that happens without any plan or reason.
Usage: Use "chance" as a noun to refer to an opportunity or the likelihood of something happening, such as taking a chance on a new idea or leaving it to chance. Avoid confusing it with verb phrases like "do a favor," which are unrelated in meaning and usage.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
"When you buy these stocks you are gambling"
To happen by chance, to occur.
"I never expected to run into my old professor at the coffee shop today; it was pure chance."
In plain English: To chance something means to take a risk by doing it without knowing what might happen.
"I will chance meeting her while walking home from work."
Usage: Do not use "chance" as a verb to mean something happened randomly; instead, use it only in the specific phrase "chance upon" or "chance to do something." For example, say you "chanced to see" an accident rather than saying the event simply "chanced."
Happening by chance, casual.
"I ran into my old professor at a coffee shop completely by chance."
In plain English: Chance describes something that happens without any reason or plan behind it.
"He was lucky enough to get a chance seat right next to the stage."
Usage: Use "chance" as an adjective only in formal or literary contexts to describe something that occurs casually or without a specific plan, such as a chance meeting. In everyday speech, it is more natural to use the phrase "by chance" or the adverb "casually" instead of modifying a noun directly with this word.
Perchance; perhaps.
"Chances are you won't find a parking spot so close to the theater entrance."
In plain English: To do something by chance means doing it without planning it ahead of time.
"We will see each other by chance next week."
Usage: Use "chance" as an adverb only at the beginning or end of a sentence to mean "perhaps," such as in "Chance will tell." Avoid using it in the middle of a phrase where modern English prefers "possibly" or "by chance."
A male given name from English, an American pet form of Chauncey, in modern usage also associated with the word chance.
"My neighbor's dog is named Chance after his son, which always confuses people who think it refers to luck."
The word "chance" entered English from Middle English, which borrowed it from Old French where it meant an accident or luck. Its ultimate origin lies in the Latin verb cadere, meaning "to fall," reflecting the idea of something happening by falling into place without design.