| noun | a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances “the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington” |
| noun | an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another “bad luck caused his downfall” |
| noun | a risk involving danger “you take a chance when you let her drive” |
| noun | a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible “the probability that an unbiased coin will fall with the head up is 0.5” |
| noun | the possibility of future success “his prospects as a writer are excellent” |
| verb | be the case by chance “I chanced to meet my old friend in the street” |
| verb | take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome “When you buy these stocks you are gambling” |
| verb | come upon, as if by accident; meet with “We find this idea in Plato” |
| adjective | occurring or appearing or singled out by chance “seek help from casual passers-by” |
| opportune | adjective | suitable or at a time that is suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose |
| chance | verb | be the case by chance |
| hazard | verb | put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation |
| chancy | adjective | of uncertain outcome; especially fraught with risk; - New Yorker |
| probabilistic | adjective | of or relating to or based on probability |
| probable | adjective | likely but not certain to be or become true or real |
| prospect | verb | search for something desirable |
| chance | noun | a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances |
| gamble | noun | a risky act or venture |
| gambler | noun | someone who risks loss or injury in the hope of gain or excitement |
| risk | noun | a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury |
| hazard | noun | a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune |
| adventure | noun | a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful) |
| adventurer | noun | someone who travels into little known regions (especially for some scientific purpose) |
| find | noun | the act of discovering something |
| finder | noun | someone who is the first to observe something |
| encounter | noun | a casual or unexpected convergence |
| casualness | noun | a casual manner |