Phrase guide

take a chance

verb · 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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To risk doing something; to try something risky.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He took a chance by supporting the unknown artist.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • When you buy these stocks you are gambling

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gamble, chance, risk, hazard, take chances, adventure, run a risk

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: try, seek, attempt, essay, assay

Narrower terms: go for broke, luck it, luck through

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: рискувам (riskuvam) — to risk
  • Bulgarian: поемам риск — to risk
  • Catalan: aventurar-se — to risk
  • Finnish: riskeerata — to risk
  • Finnish: pelata upporikasta ja rutiköyhää — to risk
  • French: se jeter à l'eau — to risk
  • Galician: arriscar — to risk
  • Greek: ρισκάρω (riskáro) — to risk
  • Greek: ριψοκινδυνεύω (ripsokindynévo) — to risk
  • Ancient Greek: παραβάλλομαι (parabállomai) — to risk
  • Hungarian: megkockáztat — to risk
  • Hungarian: kockáztat — to risk
  • Hungarian: tesz egy próbát — to risk
  • Hungarian: megpróbálkozik — to risk
  • Italian: rischiare — to risk
  • Polish: ryzykować — to risk
  • Polish: zaryzykować — to risk
  • Polish: podejmować ryzyko — to risk
  • Polish: podjąć ryzyko — to risk
  • Russian: рискова́ть (riskovátʹ) — to risk
  • Spanish: dejar lo cierto por lo dudoso — to risk
  • Spanish: rifársela — to risk
  • Swedish: ta en chans — to risk
  • Tagalog: magbakasakali — to risk