Phrase guide

by any chance

prep_phrase · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Used to ask a question more politely

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Are you by any chance looking for a new staff member?
  • You wouldn't like to come, by any chance?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: perchance, by chance, perhaps, possibly

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see by, any, chance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 也許 /也许 (yěxǔ) — possibly; perhaps
  • Chinese Mandarin: 萬一 /万一 (wànyī) — possibly; perhaps
  • Finnish: sattumoisin — possibly; perhaps
  • Finnish: sattumalta — possibly; perhaps
  • French: par hasard — possibly; perhaps
  • French: à tout hasard — possibly; perhaps
  • German: vielleicht — possibly; perhaps
  • Greek: τυχόν (tychón) — possibly; perhaps
  • Hungarian: esetleg — possibly; perhaps
  • Malay: agaknya — possibly; perhaps
  • Malay: agak-agaknya — possibly; perhaps
  • Malay: kalau boleh — possibly; perhaps
  • Polish: przypadkiem — possibly; perhaps
  • Portuguese: por acaso — possibly; perhaps
  • Portuguese: por algum acaso — possibly; perhaps
  • Russian: случайно (slučajno) — possibly; perhaps
  • Spanish: por algún casual — possibly; perhaps
  • Ukrainian: часом (časom) — possibly; perhaps