stand a chance of
idiom
: to have a possibility of (succeeding or winning)
The team stands a chance of doing well this year.
I think she stands a good chance of winning the election.
—often used in negative statementsShe stands no chance of winning.
Examples of stand a chance of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Portions of the Ohio Valley, Tennessee Valley and Lower Mississippi Valleys all stand a chance of being hit with widespread showers and thunderstorms as the storm moves eastward to the Appalachians, the weather service said.
—
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025
But in an era of multiple cupholders and automatic transmissions, the Viper—vehemently rejecting both—didn’t stand a chance of making a profitable contribution to Detroit’s bottom line, and production ceased in 2017, with about 32,000 examples made throughout its 26-year run.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2025
Every pillar is necessary if the world is to stand a chance of meeting its climate objectives.
—William Nordhaus, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2021
Rather, the United States should work with Taiwan to develop asymmetric military capabilities that would actually stand a chance of deterring a Chinese invasion or attacks on critical infrastructure.
—Michael J. Green, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2020
See all Example Sentences for stand a chance of 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025
But in an era of multiple cupholders and automatic transmissions, the Viper—vehemently rejecting both—didn’t stand a chance of making a profitable contribution to Detroit’s bottom line, and production ceased in 2017, with about 32,000 examples made throughout its 26-year run.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2025
Every pillar is necessary if the world is to stand a chance of meeting its climate objectives.
—William Nordhaus, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2021
Rather, the United States should work with Taiwan to develop asymmetric military capabilities that would actually stand a chance of deterring a Chinese invasion or attacks on critical infrastructure.
—Michael J. Green, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2020
See all Example Sentences for stand a chance of
Dictionary Entries Near stand a chance of
Cite this Entry
“Stand a chance of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stand%20a%20chance%20of. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share