Opportunity is the most common of these terms. It implies an occurrence of circumstances favourable to doing something, especially something that corresponds to one;s wishes, purposes or inclinations.
government policy of giving all citizens an equal chance (equal opportunity)
we had an opportunity to visit our parents
opportunity knocks (appears
a fleeting opportunity
a lost opportunity
a missed opportunity
to grab an opportunity
to seize an opportunity
to take an opportunity
to afford an opportunity
to give an opportunity
We were given this single opportunity to train the batch of young officers because the War Office have faith in the traditions of the Corps.
to offer an opportunity)
Chance is a favorable opportunity that comes seemingly by good fortune or accident and calls for action. In negative statements it is full synonym of opportunity.
to have an chance of
to stand a chance of
she has a good chance of success
he doesn’t have a ghost of a chance
to let a chance slip by
to miss one’s chance
he doesn’t have an earthy chance of being elected
there is little chance of that happening
she doesn’t stand a chance against such strong competitors
she had a chance to visit her family
there is no chance that she will win
to take a chance on = to try one’s luck at
it was by pure chance that we met
If….I could get back my purity of motive so easily, I should be a fool not to take the chance.
If anything went wrong, I had lost that stake altogether, and so had no second chance.
V.
