Cool MateChance vs Fortune vs Likelihood vs Opportunity vs Risk
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
Risk
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
| Chance | Fortune | Likelihood | Opportunity | Risk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃæns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːtʃuːn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrtʃən/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɒpəˈtjuːnəti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪsk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪsk/"]/ |
| 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. | the chance of something bad happening |
| 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 risk involved in investing in the stock market. |
| 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 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 | C1 | A2 | B1 |
| 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 | big, considerable, enormous, degree, level, element, face, run, take, outweigh something, group, factor, assessment, at risk, at risk from, at risk of, at your own risk, an increase in risk, a reduction in risk, big, considerable, enormous, degree, level, element, face, run, take, outweigh something, group, factor, assessment, at risk, at risk from, at risk of, at your own risk, an increase in risk, a reduction in risk, big, considerable, enormous, degree, level, element, face, run, take, outweigh something, group, factor, assessment, at risk, at risk from, at risk of, at your own risk, an increase in risk, a reduction in risk |
| Antonyms | certainty, inevitability | poverty, misfortune | unlikelihood, improbability | obstacle, hindrance, barrier | safety, 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 risk with danger - risk is about possibility, while danger implies a higher chance of harm., Using 'risks' as a singular noun - remember to use the correct plural or singular form., Omitting the object when saying 'risk' - always specify what is being risked. |
| 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. | Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. When discussing financial matters, 'risk' is frequent; however, it may not be appropriate in casual conversation about personal matters unless framed carefully. |
Frequently asked questions: Chance vs Fortune vs Likelihood vs Opportunity vs Risk
What's the difference between Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Risk?
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. Risk: the chance of something bad happening
Which is more advanced: Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Risk?
Likelihood is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Risk the same CEFR level?
Chance: A2, Fortune: B2, Likelihood: C1, Opportunity: A2, Risk: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Risk?
Chance: noun, Fortune: noun, Likelihood: noun, Opportunity: noun, Risk: 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. Risk: There is a risk involved in investing in the stock market.
Can I use Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Risk interchangeably?
Not always. Chance, Fortune, Likelihood, Opportunity, and Risk 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.