Phrase guide

chances are

adv · 1 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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  • rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)

1

adv

Meaning 1

It is likely that, it is probable that

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • If you leave before 7, chances are you'll miss the traffic.
  • 2 August 2018', Ignatiy Vishnevetsky in AV Club, Disney goes back to the Hundred Acre Wood in the wistful Christopher Robin There are the inevitable life lessons about family and making time, plus a big speech in which Pooh serves as an unlikely guru of the importance of paid vacation days. Chances are you’ve seen seen this all before. But at least this time, you’re seeing it with Pooh.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: il est probable que — it is probable that
  • German: es ist wahrscheinlich — it is probable that