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What is the difference between chance and luck?

chance | luck |

As nouns the difference between chance and luck

is that chance is an opportunity or possibility while luck is something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence.

As verbs the difference between chance and luck

is that chance is to happen by chance, to occur while luck is to succeed by chance.

As proper nouns the difference between chance and luck

is that chance is a given name derived from English, an American pet form of Chauncey, in modern usage also associated with the word chance while Luck is {{surname|from=given names}.

As an adjective chance

is happening by chance, casual.

chance

English

Alternative forms

* chaunce (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (countable) An opportunity or possibility.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=Here was my chance . I took the old man aside, and two or three glasses of Old Crow launched him into reminiscence.}}
  • (uncountable) Random occurrence; luck.
  • (countable) The probability of something happening.

    • Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the noun "chance") * Buckley's chance * by chance * chance'd be a fine thing * chance fracture * chance-medley * chancer * chances are * chancy * Chinaman's chance * dog's chance * even chance * fair chance * fat chance * fighting chance * first-chance exception * game of chance * half a chance * happy chance * in with a chance * jump at the chance * last chance * last chance saloon * main chance * mum chance * not a chance * off chance/off-chance * outside chance * perchance * slim chance * smart chance * snowball's chance * snowball's chance in hell * sporting chance * stand a chance

    Verb

    (chanc)
  • (archaic) To happen by chance, to occur.
    • It chanced that I found a solution the very next day.
  • * Bible, Deuteronomy xxii. 6
    • if a bird's nest chance to be before thee
  • * Shakespeare
    • I chanced on this letter.
  • * 1843 , (Thomas Carlyle), '', book 2, ch. XV, ''Practical — Devotional
    • Once it chanced that Geoffrey Riddell (Bishop of Ely), a Prelate rather troublesome to (w), made a request of him for timber from his woods towards certain edifices going on at (Glemsford).
  • * 1847 , , (Jane Eyre), Chapter XVIII
    • Mr. Mason, shivering as some one chanced to open the door, asked for more coal to be put on the fire, which had burnt out its flame, though its mass of cinder still shone hot and red. The footman who brought the coal, in going out, stopped near Mr. Eshton's chair, and said something to him in a low voice, of which I heard only the words, "old woman,"—"quite troublesome."
  • (archaic) To befall; to happen to.
  • * 1826 , William Lambarde, A Perambulation of Kent
  • To try or risk.
    • Shall we carry the umbrella, or chance a rainstorm?
  • * W. D. Howells
    • Come what will, I will chance it.
  • To discover something by chance.
    • He chanced upon a kindly stranger who showed him the way.

    Derived terms

    * (l) * * (l)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (rare) Happening]] by [[#Noun, chance, casual.
  • * 1859 , (Charles Dickens), (A Tale of Two Cities)'', ch. VI, ''The Shoe Maker (Heron Book Centenial Edition)
    • No crowd was about the door; no people were discernible at any of the many windows; not even a chance passer-by was in the street. An unnatural silence and desertion reigned there.

    References

    * *

    Statistics

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    luck

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence.
    • The raffle is just a matter of luck .
    Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to get success.
    I couldn't believe my luck when I found a fifty dollar bill on the street.
    Gilbert had some bad luck yesterday — he got pick-pocketed and lost fifty dollars.
  • A superstitious feeling that brings fortune or success.
    • He blew on the dice for luck .
    I wish you lots of luck for the exam tomorrow.
  • success
    • I tried for ages to find a pair of blue suede shoes, but didn't have any luck .
    He has a lot of luck with the ladies, perhaps it is because of his new motorbike.

    Synonyms

    * fortune (both senses)

    Derived terms

    * bad luck * down on one's luck * good luck * luckless * lucky * lucky break * luck out * luck of the draw * luck of the Irish * luck upon * push one's luck * ride one's luck * run of bad luck * sheer luck * streak of good luck

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To succeed by chance.
    • His plan lucked out.
  • To rely on luck.
    • No plan. We're just to going to have to luck through.
  • To carry out relying on luck.
    • Our plan is to luck it through.
    1000 English basic words