Likelihood vs You have a chance to win

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Likelihood

Top 2,000 (common)C1noun

You have a chance to win

Top 2,000 (common)
 LikelihoodYou have a chance to win
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/🇬🇧 //jʊ hæv ə tʃɑːns tə wɪn//🇺🇸 //jə hæv ə tʃæns tə wɪn//
MeaningThe chance that something will happen.You might get lucky and receive something.
ExampleThere is very little likelihood of that happening.In this contest, you have a chance to win a valuable prize!
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsevery, greater, increased, decrease, diminish, lessen, grow, diminish, likelihood for, likelihood of, in all likelihoodhave a fair chance, give someone a chance, take a chance, chance of winning, chance to compete
Antonymsunlikelihood, improbability-
Common mistakesConfusing 'likelihood' with 'likely'., Using 'likelihood' as a countable noun instead of uncountable., Mixing up the preposition, saying 'likelihood for' instead of 'likelihood of'.Confused with 'you have the ability to win' - 'chance' implies luck., Used in incorrect contexts - avoid using for guaranteed outcomes., Overusing with negative scenarios - 'chance' generally has a positive connotation.
Usage notesUse 'likelihood' in discussions of probability. It's neutral, suitable for academic and everyday contexts, but avoid it in very casual conversations.Use in contexts where opportunity or luck is being discussed, often in competitions or lotteries.

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You have a chance to win

Frequently asked questions: Likelihood vs You have a chance to win

What's the difference between Likelihood and You have a chance to win?

Likelihood: The chance that something will happen. You have a chance to win: You might get lucky and receive something.

Can you show an example of each?

Likelihood: There is very little likelihood of that happening. You have a chance to win: In this contest, you have a chance to win a valuable prize!

Can I use Likelihood and You have a chance to win interchangeably?

Not always. Likelihood and You have a chance to win are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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