Cool MateChance vs Fortune vs Likelihood vs Opportunity vs Possibility
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Chance
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Fortune
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Likelihood
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Opportunity
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Possibility
Top 2,000 (common)A2noun
| Chance | Fortune | Likelihood | Opportunity | Possibility | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃæns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːtʃuːn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrtʃən/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɒpəˈtjuːnəti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌpɑːsəˈbɪləti/"]/ |
| Meaning | A possibility of something happening. | A lot of money or good luck. | The chance that something will happen. | A chance to do something or improve your situation. | Something that might happen or be true. |
| Example | She took a chance and applied for the job, despite her doubts. | She decided to test her fortune by playing the lottery. | There is very little likelihood of that happening. | She seized the opportunity to travel abroad for her studies. | There is a possibility of rain tomorrow, so take your umbrella. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 | C1 | A2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | noun | noun |
| Collocations | excellent, good, high, give somebody, be in with, have, by any chance, chance of, chance for, fat chance, have every chance, no chance!, equal, fair, good, element, get, have, deserve, arise, come, come your way, chance at, given the chance, half a chance, let a chance slip, take, chance on, chance with, mere, pure, sheer, leave something to, by chance, due to chance, through chance, a game of chance, take your chances | considerable, enormous, great, accumulate, acquire, amass, hunter, fortune from, fortune in, fortune on, fame and fortune, heir to a fortune, heiress to a fortune, good, bad, ill, piece, stroke, have, bring (somebody), be on somebody’s side, favour/favor somebody, smile on somebody, as good fortune would have it, a change in fortune, a change of fortune, declining, flagging, changing, boost, improve, revive, change, fluctuate, improve, a reversal of fortune, a reversal of fortunes, read, tell, teller, telling | every, greater, increased, decrease, diminish, lessen, grow, diminish, likelihood for, likelihood of, in all likelihood | ample, considerable, plenty of, have, find, get, exist, arise, come, opportunity for, at the earliest opportunity, at the first (possible) opportunity, at every available opportunity | exciting, interesting, intriguing, allow somebody, create, offer somebody, exist, remain, possibility for, possibility of, not beyond the bounds of possibility, within the realm of possibility, a number of possibilities, exciting, interesting, intriguing, allow somebody, create, offer somebody, exist, remain, possibility for, possibility of, not beyond the bounds of possibility, within the realm of possibility, a number of possibilities |
| Antonyms | certainty, inevitability | poverty, misfortune | unlikelihood, improbability | obstacle, hindrance, barrier | impossibility, certainty |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'change' in spoken English., Using 'chance' as a verb incorrectly., Saying 'a chance to do' when it should be 'chance of doing'. | Confused with 'fortuitous' — relates to chance, not wealth., Placing 'a' before 'fortune' when referencing large amounts, e.g., 'a fortune' not 'fortune'. | Confusing 'likelihood' with 'likely'., Using 'likelihood' as a countable noun instead of uncountable., Mixing up the preposition, saying 'likelihood for' instead of 'likelihood of'. | Confused with 'chance'—they are similar but 'opportunity' often implies a better or more favorable condition., Using it inappropriately in negative contexts—'opportunity' usually has a positive connotation. | Confusing 'possibility' with 'probability' (possibility is broader)., Using 'possibility' when a more definite word like 'surety' is needed., Incorrectly using it as a verb instead of a noun. |
| Usage notes | Use 'chance' when discussing the likelihood of an event. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but avoid using it in very formal documents. It can often be replaced with 'opportunity' when talking about the possibility for success. | Used in contexts related to wealth or luck. Not typically used in formal business conversations. | Use 'likelihood' in discussions of probability. It's neutral, suitable for academic and everyday contexts, but avoid it in very casual conversations. | Used in both formal and informal contexts. It's appropriate for discussing career chances, events, or possibilities. Avoid using in overly casual situations. | Use 'possibility' when discussing potential events or situations. It's suitable for both spoken and written language. Avoid informal contexts where simpler words may be more appropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: Chance vs Fortune vs Likelihood vs Opportunity vs Possibility
What's the difference between Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Possibility?
Chance: A possibility of something happening. Fortune: A lot of money or good luck. Likelihood: The chance that something will happen. Opportunity: A chance to do something or improve your situation. Possibility: Something that might happen or be true.
Which is more advanced: Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Possibility?
Likelihood is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Possibility the same CEFR level?
Chance: A2, Fortune: B2, Likelihood: C1, Opportunity: A2, Possibility: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Possibility?
Chance: noun, Fortune: noun, Likelihood: noun, Opportunity: noun, Possibility: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Chance: She took a chance and applied for the job, despite her doubts. Fortune: She decided to test her fortune by playing the lottery. Likelihood: There is very little likelihood of that happening. Opportunity: She seized the opportunity to travel abroad for her studies. Possibility: There is a possibility of rain tomorrow, so take your umbrella.
Can I use Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Possibility interchangeably?
Not always. Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Possibility are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.