Odds | Mean of odds in English Dictionary

/ˈɑːdz/

• Noun
• the possibility that something will happen
1. She wanted to improve her odds [=chances] of winning.
2. They believe that surgery may increase his odds of survival. [=may make it more likely that he will survive]
3. There's a chance it could rain, but odds are that it'll be sunny tomorrow. [=it is more likely to be sunny than rainy tomorrow]
4. The team has made some major improvements, but they still face long odds. [=they still are not likely to win]
5. The odds are good that he'll survive. [=he is likely to survive]
6. What are the odds of winning?
7. What are the odds that they'll be there on time?
8. Smoking increases the odds of getting lung cancer.
9. The odds are in our favor. [=it is likely that we will succeed]
10. She knew that the odds were against her. [=she knew that she was not likely to succeed]
11. It could rain tomorrow, but the odds are against it. [=it probably will not rain]
12. The odds are in favor of a major storm this weekend. [=a major storm is likely this weekend]
• conditions that make it difficult for something to happen
1. They fought against great/heavy/impossible/overwhelming odds and won.
2. He was able to do it, against all odds. [=even though it was very difficult and unlikely]
3. They defied/overcame the odds.
4. Despite/against the odds, she has survived breast cancer.
5. I tried to beat the odds. [=to succeed even though I was not likely to succeed]
• two numbers that show how much a person can win by betting a certain amount of money
1. I bet $1,000 at 4–1 odds. If the horse I bet on wins, I will walk away with $4,000.
2. winning at odds of 6–1

• not agreeing with each other
1. The parents and teachers are still at odds (about/over what to teach the students).
2. The two groups have long been at odds with each other.
3. He was completely at odds [=he completely disagreed] with the way the problem was being handled.
4. The results of the study are at odds with our previous findings.
• more than the usual or expected amount
1. We had to pay over the odds to get good seats for the concert.