noun

luck

luhk

noun

The way things happen to work out, especially through chance rather than through anyone's effort or skill.

"With a bit of luck, we'll catch the last train."

"It was pure luck that she found her keys in the snow."

Good fortune specifically; a favourable outcome that wasn't earned or planned.

"He had the luck to land the last seat on the flight."

verb

To stumble onto something good by chance (usually "luck into" or "luck onto").

"They lucked into a cheap flat right in the city centre."

How to Use Luck

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWhatever happens to you by chance, good or bad — though on its own the word usually leans positive.

Common mistake

On its own, "luck" is neutral (bad luck exists too), but "lucky" almost always means good fortune — don't assume "luck" always means good luck without context.

Common pairings

good luck bad luck luck out try your luck stroke of luck

Word Forms

lucked past tense, lucks plural, lucks singular

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With a bit of _____, we'll catch the last train.

Etymology

Borrowed into English around the 1400s, probably as a gambling term, from Middle Dutch luc — a shortened form of gheluc, "good fortune." It has cousins across Germanic languages, including German Glück and Dutch geluk, both meaning "luck" or "happiness."

Synonyms

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adventure accident casualty chance chance-medley fortune hap hazard joss serendipity weird

Related Words

accident fortune chance danger wealth weird strange happen

Rhymes for luck

duck suck muck buck yuck puck huck tuck stuck truck pluck chuck

See all rhymes for luck →

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adventure accident casualty chance chance-medley fortune hap hazard joss serendipity weird danger