Synonyms for chance

modified

noun

1. The powers of uncertainty

   fate, fortune, fortuity, hazard, lot, accident, luck, good luck, bad luck, destiny, outcome, cast, lottery, gamble, hap, adventure, contingency, coincidence, serendipity, randomness, blind chance, kismet, happening, future, doom, occurrence, happenstance*, the breaks*, hit*, Lady Luck*, Dame Fortune*, turn of the cards*, the way the cookie crumbles*, hazard of the dice*, luck of the draw*, heads or tails*; see also accident 2.

   Antonyms aim, purpose*, design.

2. A possibility

   opening, occasion, prospect, turn; see opportunity 1, possibility 2, timeliness.

3. An uncertainty

   venture, gamble, speculation; see bet, risk 2, uncertainty 3.

4. Probability; often plural

   likelihood, possibility, odds, indications; see probability.

by chance

on the (off) chance

verb

1. To happen

   come to pass, befall, occur; see happen 2.

2. To take a chance

   venture, stake, hazard, risk, wager, gamble, try, attempt, jeopardize, speculate, tempt fate, tempt fortune, trust to chance, trust to luck, run the risk, try one's luck, play with fire*, take a shot in the dark*, take a leap in the dark*, buy a pig in a poke*, go out on a limb*, chance one's luck*, chance it*, have a fling at*, take a fling at*, put all one's eggs in one basket*, skate on thin ice*, stick one's neck out*; see also gamble 1, risk. See syn. study at happen.