chance
noun
the absence of any cause of events that can be predicted, understood, or controlled: often personified or treated as a positive agency.
had chanced
-
past perfectof chance.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
As with many British millennials, my introduction to William, at age 7, came via the “Just William” audiobook, which my mother had chanced upon at a secondhand sale.
From New York Times ● Apr. 22, 2022
I had chanced upon and spoken to Kennedy when he was running in the 1960 West Virginia presidential primary, but when I told Glenn about the encounter, he winced.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 8, 2016
Imagine that an intermediate species, say Australopithecus afarensis, had chanced to survive and was discovered in a remote part of Africa.
From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2014
Brown had chanced upon Rumer on walking into an open-mic night and says "after 10 seconds I was mesmerised".
From The Guardian ● Aug. 28, 2010
Since she left the chair sit w’here the gendeman had chanced to put it, she sat to one side in a corner.
From "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
