noun
plural chances
an opportunity to do something :an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done [count]
To jump/leap/grab at the chance to do something is to have an opportunity to do something and to say in an excited way that you will do it or to do it in a very eager way.
If you have a fighting chance to do something, you may be able to do it by making a great effort.
the possibility that something will happen [count]
The phrase by any chance is used when asking questions in a polite way.
The informal phrases fat chance and not a chance are used as a forceful way of saying that there is no possibility that something will happen.
[noncount] :the way that events happen when they are not planned or controlled by people :luck
If something happens by chance, people have not planned it or tried to make it happen.
The phrase as chance would have it is used to say that something happened because of good or bad luck.
A game of chance is a game (such as a dice game) in which luck rather than skill decides who wins.
chance would be a fine thing
Brit informal - used to say that something good or desirable is not likely to happen
on the off chance
used to talk about something that might happen or be true but that is not likely
stand a chance
to have a possibility of succeeding
take a chance
to do something that could have either good or bad results
verb
chances; chanced; chancing
[+ obj] :to accept the danger of (doing something) :risk
[no obj] formal - used to describe something that happens because of luck or chance; followed by to + verb
chance upon
also chance on [phrasal verb]
chance upon/on (someone or something) formal :to find (something) or meet (someone) by chance
chance your arm
Brit informal :to take a chance :to do something that could have bad results
adjective
always used before a noun
happening without being planned or controlled by people :happening by chance