chances 1 of 2

plural of chance
1
2
as in opportunities
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place this is my one chance to succeed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of chance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of chances
Noun
Though their title chances took a hit when Xavi Simons sustained a season-ending injury this spring, the Dutch surround van Dijk with a deep group of younger teammates, including Frenkie de Jong, Denzel Dumfries and Tijjani Reijnders. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026 To lessen your chances of contracting the parasite, avoid consuming food or water that may be contaminated with feces, the MCHD warns. Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 Mason Fluharty got one out in the seventh, Tyler Rogers worked the eighth and Louis Varland finished for his 17th save in 17 chances. Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 30 June 2026 With warm weather traveling in full swing, the chances of overheating are inevitable. Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026 Still there were no goals as Morocco let multiple chances go wanting and the Dutch failed to look truly dangerous in the final third. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 29 June 2026 The chances that a tropical system could develop off the Atlantic coast — as some long-range computer models suggested last week — continue to fall. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026 Late word comes out that SoCal’s Meghan Dizon is sick, forcing their sub Naomi Nguyen into action and really dampening their chances of another big weekend. Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Brazil had two chances to even the score early in the second half before breaking through. Kristie Rieken, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
Verb
Wednesday will feature morning and evening storm chances with a slight threat — 2 on a scale of 5— of severe conditions. Chris Shaffer, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Considerably more sympathetic to her plight is Melanie Saunders (Graynor), a high-minded acting teacher whose intensive Act One studio Hannah chances upon while researching her favorite young actress, Gracie Thomas (Tavi Gevinson), online. Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chances
Noun
  • The group of death in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers wasn’t enough, because in Egypt’s next attempt to reach the finals in 2006, their luck put them in a group with Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast and Samuel Eto’o’s Cameroon.
    Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • In retrospect, the result looks less like luck than like a compounding advantage.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • There are fewer opportunities for younger workers to find mentors and soak up knowledge.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • My hope is that each and every American and everyone who resides in our great country will all get the same level of freedom and opportunities, and everyone can have a chance at the American dream.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • Instead, they must be guided by the real-time facts of each situation, measure their key performance indicators carefully, and weigh the probabilities of different possible outcomes.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 July 2026
  • Information still needs to be interrogated, narratives stress-tested and probabilities translated into exposure limits.
    Peter Doyle, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • LaMelo Ball is teaming up with Anthony Edwards after one of Tim Connelly’s boldest gambles yet.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 June 2026
  • Drawing on generations of Chinatown family lore and silences, See turns China City’s vanished streets and her ancestors’ immigrant gambles into a historical fiction layered with stories of survival and belonging.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • The current system risks patient dissatisfaction if complex issues aren't addressed by doctors, and further physician disenfranchisement is unsustainable.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Kalshi risks more Illinois fights Illinois seems certain that there are many questions that courts must answer before prediction markets like Kalshi can keep taking sports wagers.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • This typically happens because navigating the conflict proves that the relationship is resilient and can withstand the realities of the human experience.
    Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 July 2026
  • This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • Plantation police said the circumstances surrounding the child's death remain under investigation.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • Officials did not initially identify Ortiz Canseco on Thursday or disclose the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, saying his family needed to be notified first.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • In his disclosure for 2024, Trump reported more than $600 million in income from cryptocurrencies, golf properties, licensing and other ventures.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • His off-court endeavors have contributed to the majority of his wealth, generating over $1 billion from business ventures and endorsement deals.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Chances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chances. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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