Cool MateChance vs Likelihood
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Chance
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Likelihood
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Most common: Chance
| Chance | Likelihood | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃæns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/ |
| Meaning | A possibility of something happening. | The chance that something will happen. |
| Example | She took a chance and applied for the job, despite her doubts. | There is very little likelihood of that happening. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | 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 | every, greater, increased, decrease, diminish, lessen, grow, diminish, likelihood for, likelihood of, in all likelihood |
| Antonyms | certainty, inevitability | unlikelihood, improbability |
| 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'. | Confusing 'likelihood' with 'likely'., Using 'likelihood' as a countable noun instead of uncountable., Mixing up the preposition, saying 'likelihood for' instead of 'likelihood of'. |
| 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. | Use 'likelihood' in discussions of probability. It's neutral, suitable for academic and everyday contexts, but avoid it in very casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Chance vs Likelihood
What's the difference between Chance and Likelihood?
Chance: A possibility of something happening. Likelihood: The chance that something will happen.
Which is more common: Chance and Likelihood?
Chance is the most common in everyday English.
Are Chance and Likelihood the same CEFR level?
Chance: A2, Likelihood: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Chance and Likelihood interchangeably?
Not always. Chance and Likelihood 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.