chances

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of chance.

   The doctors weighed the patient's chances before agreeing on a treatment.

   Investors who ignore the warning signs are taking real chances with their savings.

   Note

   Only the countable meanings of chance take an -s: an opportunity, a possibility, the probability of something happening. Chance as luck or random occurrence stays singular, so you leave something to chance, not to chances. A patient's chances are their odds, and taking chances is running risks. The archaic countable sense, a person's lot or fate, could pluralize as well.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of chance.

   Whenever the boss is away, she chances a few extra minutes at lunch.

   The cat chances a leap onto the narrow ledge above the window.

   Note

   The same spelling does double duty with the plural noun: her chances are her odds, but she chances something means she risks it. In everyday use the verb takes a direct object (chances a leap, chances a guess), while chances upon means stumbles on by luck. The intransitive 'happens', as in it chances that, is archaic. In Belize it can mean cheats someone, and in Nigeria it can mean cuts a queue.

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