odds

[ odz ]
See synonyms for odds on Thesaurus.com
noun(usually used with a plural verb)
  1. the probability that something is so, will occur, or is more likely to occur than something else: The odds are that it will rain today.

  2. the ratio of probability that something is so, will occur, or is more likely to occur than something else.

  1. this ratio used as the basis of a bet; the ratio by which the bet of one party to a wager exceeds that of the other, granted by one of two betting opponents to equalize the chances favoring one of them: The odds are two-to-one that it won't rain today.

  2. an equalizing allowance, as that given the weaker person or team in a contest; handicap.

  3. an advantage or degree of superiority on the side of two contending parties; a difference favoring one of two contestants.

  4. an amount or degree by which one thing is better or worse than another.

Idioms about odds

  1. at odds, at variance; in disagreement: They were usually at odds over political issues.

  2. by all odds, in every respect; by far; undoubtedly: She is by all odds the brightest child in the family.: Also by long odds, by odds.

Origin of odds

1
First recorded in 1490–1500; special use of odd

Words Nearby odds

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use odds in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for odds

odds

/ (ɒdz) /


pl n
  1. (foll by on or against) the probability, expressed as a ratio, that a certain event will take place: the odds against the outsider are a hundred to one

  2. the amount, expressed as a ratio, by which the wager of one better is greater than that of another: he was offering odds of five to one

  1. the likelihood that a certain state of affairs will be found to be so: the odds are that he is drunk

  2. the chances or likelihood of success in a certain undertaking: their odds were very poor after it rained

  3. an equalizing allowance, esp one given to a weaker side in a contest

  4. the advantage that one contender is judged to have over another: the odds are on my team

  5. British a significant difference (esp in the phrase it makes no odds)

  6. at odds

    • on bad terms

    • appearing not to correspond or match: the silvery hair was at odds with her youthful shape

  7. give odds or lay odds to offer a bet with favourable odds

  8. take odds to accept such a bet

  9. over the odds

    • more than is expected, necessary, etc: he got two pounds over the odds for this job

    • unfair or excessive

  10. what's the odds? British informal what difference does it make?

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with odds

odds

In addition to the idioms beginning with odds

  • odds and ends
  • odds are, the

also see:

  • against all odds
  • at odds
  • by all odds
  • lay odds

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.