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Synonyms

by chance

Idioms  
  1. 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.

See Examples For:

Lomachar's says his discovery came about purely by chance.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

Did Slate politics by chance publish a really excellent feature today on Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, one so compelling and rich that I could find solace just by reading it?

From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026

Some occur by chance as cancer cells divide.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

Odds of such a skew occurring by chance are about 1 in 6.5 million.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

Then one afternoon in the spring, they were out, by chance, at dusk.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen

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