chance
gb/t͡ʃˈæns/ us/t͡ʃˈæns/
A2
English
~ 700
esély, valószínűség, lehetőség, alkalom, véletlen, rábukkan, belebotlik, összefut
NOUN
A2
1
esély
B1
valószínűség
B2
Usage pattern:
a chance of [something happening]
There’s a good chance it will rain tomorrow.
Jó esély van rá, hogy holnap esni fog.
She has little chance of getting the job.
Kevés esélye van arra, hogy megkapja az állást.
Is there any chance we can meet earlier?
They have an equal chance of winning the game.
There's no chance he will agree to that plan.
Learner examples
There is a chance it will rain.
Van rá esély, hogy esni fog.
He has a good chance to win.
Jó esélye van a győzelemre.
Is there a chance we can talk?
She has no chance to get that job.
We have the same chance to win.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'chance' with 'opportunity'. 'Chance' can mean probability, while 'opportunity' means a favorable situation to do something.
Meaning
possibility of something happening
Collocations
good chance
|slim chance
|equal chance
|chance of success
|chance to win
Synonyms
possibility (More general and neutral; can apply to situations beyond probability.)
|
likelihood (Slightly more formal and technical than 'chance'.)
Antonyms
certainty (Indicates something will definitely happen, opposite of chance.)
Themes
daily life
|probability
|decision-making
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
How likely it is that something will happen.
The likelihood that a particular event will occur.
NOUN
A2
2
Usage pattern:
a chance to [do something]
I finally got the chance to visit Paris.
Végre lehetőségem nyílt Párizsba látogatni.
Please give me a chance to explain.
Kérlek, adj lehetőséget arra, hogy elmagyarázzam.
She missed her chance by arriving late.
This is your big chance to impress the boss.
Learner examples
I have a chance to go to London.
Lehetőségem van Londonba menni.
He gave me a chance to speak.
Lehetőséget adott arra, hogy megszólaljak.
She missed her chance to win.
This is my chance to try new food.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'probability' sense. Here, 'chance' means an occasion, not likelihood.
Meaning
opportunity to do something
Collocations
get a chance
|give someone a chance
|miss a chance
|once-in-a-lifetime chance
Synonyms
opportunity (Very close in meaning, though 'opportunity' often sounds more formal.)
Antonyms
missed opportunity (Refers to a lost or wasted favorable situation.)
Themes
daily life
|career
|goals
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
A time when you can do something you want or need to do.
A time or situation in which it is possible to do something you want or need to do.
NOUN
B1
3
véletlen
A2
We met purely by chance in the supermarket.
Teljesen véletlenül találkoztunk a szupermarketben.
It was no mere chance that they were both there.
Nem puszta véletlen volt, hogy mindketten ott voltak.
By sheer chance, she found her lost keys.
Learner examples
I met him by chance in the park.
Véletlenül találkoztam vele a parkban.
It was pure chance that we saw each other.
Tiszta véletlen volt, hogy megláttuk egymást.
She found the book by chance.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'by chance' with 'by choice'. The former means accidentally, not intentionally.
Meaning
unplanned or accidental event
Collocations
by chance
|pure chance
|meet by chance
Synonyms
coincidence ('Coincidence' often refers to two events happening together unexpectedly.)
|
accident ('Accident' often implies an unwanted or harmful event.)
Antonyms
intention (Implies deliberate planning, opposite of unplanned occurrence.)
Themes
daily life
|probability
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
Something that happens without planning or control.
An occurrence caused by luck or accident rather than design or intention.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
to chance upon [something/someone]
I chanced upon an old friend while traveling.
Utazás közben véletlenül összefutottam egy régi barátommal.
She chanced across a rare book in the shop.
Véletlenül rábukkant egy ritka könyvre a boltban.
They chanced upon a beautiful hidden beach.
Learner examples
I chanced upon my teacher in the city.
Véletlenül összefutottam a tanárommal a városban.
He chanced across an old photo.
Véletlenül rábukkant egy régi fényképre.
We chanced upon a small cafe.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this verb form with 'take a chance'. Here it means accidental discovery, not risk-taking.
Meaning
do something accidentally or unexpectedly
Collocations
chance upon
|chance across
Synonyms
stumble upon (Informal; emphasizes unexpected discovery.)
|
come across (Neutral; commonly used for finding things unexpectedly.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
To do or find something without planning it.
To do, find, or experience something without intending to.
Grammar
Dictionary form
chance
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈæns/
US/t͡ʃˈæns/
Syllables & stress
chance (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (chance)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: chance
- Plural: chance, chances
Verb
- Base: chance
- 3rd Person Singular: chances
- Present Participle: chancing
- Past: chanced
- Past Participle: chanced
Word family
Forms
chances
noun
chancing
verb
chanced
verb
Related words
chancy
adjective
Advanced or less common
chancer
noun
Expressions
by chance
1/bˈaɪ t͡ʃˈæns/
fixed phrase
happening without planning
Something that happens without being planned or expected.
Examples
- I met her purely by chance at the café.
- He found the letter by chance while cleaning his desk.
fat chance
1/fˈæt t͡ʃˈæns/
idiom
informal
sarcastic way to say no possibility
'Fat chance' means there is almost no possibility of something happening, and is often said sarcastically.
Examples
- "Will he lend you money?" "Fat chance."
- Fat chance we’ll get tickets now that it’s sold out.
on the off-chance
1/ˈɔn ðə ˈɔf t͡ʃˈæns/
fixed phrase
in case something unlikely happens
Doing something because there is a small possibility it will help or succeed.
Examples
- I called him on the off-chance he was still at home.
- She packed her swimsuit on the off-chance they would go swimming.
stand a chance
1/stˈænd ə t͡ʃˈæns/
fixed phrase
have a possibility of success
To have some possibility of winning or succeeding.
Examples
- We don’t stand a chance against such a strong team.
- She stands a good chance of passing the exam.
take a chance
1/tˈeɪk ə t͡ʃˈæns/
fixed phrase
do something risky for possible gain
To try something that might fail but could bring success if it works.
Examples
- You should take a chance and apply for the job.
- They took a chance on investing in the new company.