Synonyms

by chance

Idioms

Casually, accidentally, as in I ran into Bill purely by chance. [c. 1300] Also see by coincidence.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By chance the judge who heard the case, Alison Raeside, had sat on the earlier hearings, but she was not reminded of some key facts.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2025

By chance he ran across a YouTube video of actor Omar Epps discussing the article that moved Tupac to write the track.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025

By chance, Shimon’s new song has some words of hope for people stuck at home because of the coronavirus : “Home is where the rainbow comes.”

From NewsForKids.net • Apr. 1, 2024

By chance, however, New Zealand's new minister for mental health, Matt Doocey, is also tourism and hospitality minister.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2024

By chance, she saw a dark patch looming in the murk ahead of them, and Gubina pulled up the nose of her plane to avoid hitting it.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023