Chance vs. Fate — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Chance and Fate
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Definitions
Chance➦
The unknown and unpredictable element in happenings that seems to have no assignable cause.
Fate➦
The supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events
Fate did not favor his career.
Chance➦
A force assumed to cause events that cannot be foreseen or controlled; luck
Chance will determine the outcome.
Fate➦
The inevitable events predestined by this force
It was her fate to marry a lout.
Chance➦
Often chances The likelihood of something happening; possibility or probability
Chances are good that you will win. Is there any chance of rain?.
Fate➦
A final result or consequence; an outcome
What was the fate of your project?.
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Chance➦
An accidental or unpredictable event
"He sprang to his feet and turned to run. At the same moment by a lucky chance the moon broke through the clouds" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
Fate➦
An unfavorable outcome in life; doom or death
Suffered a fate worse than death.
The island where the explorer met his fate.
Chance➦
A favorable set of circumstances; an opportunity
A chance to escape.
Fate➦
Fates Greek & Roman Mythology The three goddesses, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, who control human destiny. Used with the.
Chance➦
A risk or hazard; a gamble
Took a chance that the ice would hold me.
Fate➦
The presumed cause, force, principle, or divine will that predetermines events.
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Chance➦
(Games) A raffle or lottery ticket.
Fate➦
The effect, consequence, outcome, or inevitable events predetermined by this cause.
Chance➦
(Baseball) An opportunity to make a putout or an assist that counts as an error if unsuccessful.
Fate➦
An event or a situation which is inevitable in the fullness of time.
Chance➦
Caused by or ascribable to chance; unexpected, random, or casual
A chance encounter.
A chance result.
Fate➦
Destiny; often with a connotation of death, ruin, misfortune, etc.
Accept your fate.
Chance➦
To take the risk or hazard of
We thought we could jump over the puddle, but we were not willing to chance it.
Fate➦
(mythology) Fate (one of the goddesses said to control the destiny of human beings).
Chance➦
To have the fortune (to be or do something); happen
"My eye chanced to fall on the wizened houseplant on the windowsill" (Elisabeth Brink).
Fate➦
(biochemistry) The products of a chemical reaction in their final form in the biosphere.
Chance➦
Used with the impersonal subject it and a following clause or infinitive to indicate the occurrence of a usually unexpected or chance event
"Now it chanced that this car-line was owned by gentlemen who were trying to make money" (Upton Sinclair).
Fate➦
(embryology) The mature endpoint of a region, group of cells or individual cell in an embryo, including all changes leading to that mature endpoint
Chance➦
(countable) An opportunity or possibility.
We had the chance to meet the president last week.
Fate➦
(transitive) To foreordain or predetermine, to make inevitable.
The oracle's prediction fated Oedipus to kill his father; not all his striving could change what would occur.
Chance➦
(uncountable) Random occurrence; luck.
Why leave it to chance when a few simple steps will secure the desired outcome?
Fate➦
A fixed decree by which the order of things is prescribed; the immutable law of the universe; inevitable necessity; the force by which all existence is determined and conditioned.
Necessity and chanceApproach not me; and what I will is fate.
Beyond and above the Olympian gods lay the silent, brooding, everlasting fate of which victim and tyrant were alike the instruments.
Chance➦
(countable) The probability of something happening.
There is a 30 percent chance of rain tomorrow.
Fate➦
Appointed lot; allotted life; arranged or predetermined event; destiny; especially, the final lot; doom; ruin; death.
The great, th'important day, big with the fateOf Cato and of Rome.
Our wills and fates do so contrary runThat our devices still are overthrown.
The whizzing arrow sings,And bears thy fate, Antinous, on its wings.
Chance➦
(in plural as chances) probability; possibility.
Fate➦
The element of chance in the affairs of life; the unforeseen and unestimated conitions considered as a force shaping events; fortune; esp., opposing circumstances against which it is useless to struggle; as, fate was, or the fates were, against him.
A brave man struggling in the storms of fate.
Sometimes an hour of Fate's serenest weather strikes through our changeful sky its coming beams.
Chance➦
What befalls or happens to a person; their lot or fate.
Fate➦
The three goddesses, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, sometimes called the Destinies, or Parcæwho were supposed to determine the course of human life. They are represented, one as holding the distaff, a second as spinning, and the third as cutting off the thread.
Chance➦
Happening by chance, casual.
Fate➦
An event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
Chance➦
(obsolete) Perchance; perhaps.
Fate➦
The ultimate agency that predetermines the course of events (often personified as a woman);
We are helpless in the face of Destiny
Chance➦
To happen by chance, to occur.
It chanced that I found a solution the very next day.
Fate➦
Your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you);
Whatever my fortune may be
Deserved a better fate
Has a happy lot
The luck of the Irish
A victim of circumstances
Success that was her portion
Chance➦
To befall; to happen to.
Fate➦
Decree or designate beforehand;
She was destined to become a great pianist
Chance➦
To try or risk.
Shall we carry the umbrella, or chance a rainstorm?
Chance➦
To discover something by chance.
He chanced upon a kindly stranger who showed him the way.
Chance➦
(Belize) To rob, cheat or swindle someone.
The car broke down a week after I bought it. I was chanced by that fast-talking salesman.
Chance➦
A supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; - in this sense often personified.
It is strictly and philosophically true in nature and reason that there is no such thing as chance or accident; it being evident that these words do not signify anything really existing, anything that is truly an agent or the cause of any event; but they signify merely men's ignorance of the real and immediate cause.
Any society into which chance might throw him.
That powerWhich erring men call Chance.
Chance➦
The operation or activity of such agent.
By chance a priest came down that way.
Chance➦
The supposed effect of such an agent; something that befalls, as the result of unknown or unconsidered forces; the issue of uncertain conditions; an event not calculated upon; an unexpected occurrence; a happening; accident; fortuity; casualty.
In the field of observation, chance favors only the mind that is prepared.
It was a chance that happened to us.
The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts,And wins (O shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts.
I spake of most disastrous chance.
Chance➦
A possibility; a likelihood; an opportunity; - with reference to a doubtful result; as, a chance to escape; a chance for life; the chances are all against him.
So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune.That I would get my life on any chance,To mend it, or be rid on 't
Chance➦
Probability.
Chance➦
To happen, come, or arrive, without design or expectation.
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee.
I chanced on this letter.
How chance, thou art returned so soon?
Chance➦
To take the chances of; to venture upon; - usually with it as object.
Come what will, I will chance it.
Chance➦
To befall; to happen to.
Chance➦
Happening by chance; casual.
Chance➦
By chance; perchance.
Chance➦
A possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances;
The holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington
Now is your chance
Chance➦
An unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another;
Bad luck caused his downfall
We ran into each other by pure chance
Chance➦
A risk involving danger;
You take a chance when you let her drive
Chance➦
A measure of how likely it is that some event will occur;
What is the probability of rain?
We have a good chance of winning
Chance➦
Be the case by chance;
I chanced to meet my old friend in the street
Chance➦
Take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome;
When you buy these stocks you are gambling
Chance➦
Come upon, as if by accident; meet with;
We find this idea in Plato
I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here
She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day
Chance➦
Occurring or appearing or singled out by chance;
Their accidental meeting led to a renewal of their friendship
Seek help from casual passers-by
A casual meeting
A chance occurrence
