Cool MateChance vs Random
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Chance
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Random
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
| Chance | Random | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃæns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrændəm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrændəm/"]/ |
| Meaning | A possibility of something happening. | without a definite plan or pattern |
| Example | She took a chance and applied for the job, despite her doubts. | I picked a random number between one and ten. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | adjective |
| 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 | be, seem, completely, entirely, purely |
| Antonyms | certainty, inevitability | structured, planned, ordered |
| 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 'arbitrary' — 'random' implies no specific order, while 'arbitrary' can imply choice without reason., Using 'randomly' when the context is not spontaneous or by chance., Overusing 'random' in apologetic contexts, like saying 'random stuff' without clarity. |
| 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 'random' to describe things that happen by chance. It's appropriate in both casual conversations and formal writing, but avoid overusing it to prevent sounding vague. |
Frequently asked questions: Chance vs Random
What's the difference between Chance and Random?
Chance: A possibility of something happening. Random: without a definite plan or pattern
Which is more advanced: Chance and Random?
Random is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Chance and Random the same CEFR level?
Chance: A2, Random: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Chance and Random?
Chance: noun, Random: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Chance: She took a chance and applied for the job, despite her doubts. Random: I picked a random number between one and ten.
Can I use Chance and Random interchangeably?
Not always. Chance and Random 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.