Odds — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun plural noun /ˈädz/

Meaning & Definition of Odds

Odds (noun)

  1. the probability that one thing is so or will happen rather than another, chances
  2. the ratio of the probability of one event to that of an alternative event
  3. a difference favoring one of two opposed things

Odds (plural noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another

    "the odds of winning the lottery are currently 200 million to one"

    similar: chance, percentage, probability
    related: outlook, prospect, contingency, possibility, potential, potentiality, conditional probability

Related Entry: Odds and ends (plural noun)

Odds and ends is a different word from Odds. The synonyms below are for odds and ends, not for odds.

  1. small useful items

    "she's always searching among the odds and ends in the drawer for some tool that she needs"

    similar: etceteras, notion, novelties, sundries
    related: baubles, bric-a-brac, gewgaws, knickknacks, trinkets, gadgets, gimmicks, jiggers, hodgepodge, miscellany, variety

  2. a remaining group or portion

    "almost all of the piece of leather will be needed for upholstering the chair, so just throw away any odds and ends"

    similar: balance, leavings, leftovers, remainder, remains, remnant, residue, residuum, rest
    related: fragment, scrap, vestige, butt, oddment, scraping(s), stub, stump, excess, fat, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus
    near: body, bulk, main, mass, most, weight

Related Entry: At odds (phrase)

At odds is a different word from Odds. The synonyms below are for at odds, not for odds.

  1. disagreeing with each other

    "They've been at odds since the election."

    similar: disunited, divided, split, at loggerheads
    related: balkanized, fractionalized, fractionated, cohesionless, factious
    opposite: unanimous, undivided, united

  2. not being in agreement or harmony

    "I thought the soundtrack was at odds with the tone of the movie."

    similar: clashing, conflicting, disagreeing, discordant, discrepant, incompatible, incongruous, inconsistent, inconsonant, inharmonious, mutually exclusive, repugnant, at variance
    related: irreconcilable, antagonistic, antipodal, antipodean, antithetical, contradictory, contrary, diametric, opposing, opposite
    opposite: accordant, agreeing, compatible, concordant, conformable (to), congruent, congruous, consistent, consonant, correspondent (with or to), harmonious, nonconflicting
    near: akin, like, similar

Related Entry: By all odds (phrase)

By all odds is a different word from Odds. The synonyms below are for by all odds, not for odds.

  1. without any question

    "He was, by all odds, the best player on the team."

    similar: all right, alright, assuredly, certainly, clearly, definitely, doubtless, easily, forsooth, hands down, inarguably, incontestably, incontrovertibly, indeed, indisputably, plainly, really, so, sure, surely, truly, unarguably, undeniably, undoubtedly, unquestionably, by all means, damn well, for certain, for sure
    related: conceivably, likely, perhaps, possibly, probably, obviously, unmistakably

  2. by a considerable margin

    "She should, by all odds, be taking home the gold this year."

    similar: far and away, head and shoulders, by a long shot, by far, by half
    related: decidedly, definitely, really, undoubtedly, unquestionably, considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially, well
    near: barely, hardly, just, marginally, scarcely, slightly, minimally, minutely

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Odds

The most common words with a similar meaning to Odds:

chance, percentage, probability

Related Words for Odds

outlook, prospect, contingency, possibility, potential, potentiality, conditional probability

Origin & Etymology of Odds

First known use: circa 1525

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Odds

Words & Phrases Containing Odds

odds and ends, odds-on, odds and sods, odds are in (someone's) favor, odds are stacked against (someone), by all odds, against all odds, at odds, beat the odds

Frequently Asked Questions about Odds

What does "Odds" mean?

"Odds" means the probability that one thing is so or will happen rather than another, chances. As an a noun and a plural noun, it is defined as: the probability that one thing is so or will happen rather than another, chances.

What is another word for "Odds"?

Other words for "Odds" include chance, percentage and probability. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Odds" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Odds"?

There are 10 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Odds". Common alternatives include chance, percentage and probability.

How do you use "Odds" in a sentence?

Examples of "Odds" in a sentence: "the odds of winning the lottery are currently 200 million to one".

Is "Odds" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Odds" can be used as a noun and a plural noun, depending on the context.

Is "Odds" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Odds" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Odds"?

"Odds" is pronounced /ˈädz/.

What is the origin of the word "Odds"?

First known use: circa 1525.