Word
fortunate
Phoneticsfor·tu·nate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɔɹtʃənət/
UK/fˈɔːtʃənət/
Definitions
01lucky or successful
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having good luck or being successful, often because you are in a good situation.
adj. favoured by fortune; possessing good luck or having a successful status in life.
“He was fortunate to have a supportive family who helped him through university.”
“The young entrepreneur was fortunate enough to secure venture capital just weeks before the market downturn began.”
Usage
Often followed by an infinitive verb phrase, such as 'fortunate to be' or 'fortunate to have'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02happening by chance
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. happening by a lucky accident or at a good time.
adj. occurring by favourable chance; auspicious or timely in a way that brings benefits.
“It was a fortunate coincidence that we both arrived at the station at the same time.”
“The discovery of the original manuscript was a fortunate event that forced historians to revise their understanding of the period.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fortunate” in context.
Verb
01. consider yourself fortunate
“You should consider yourself fortunate that you didn't lose your job after that mistake.”
verb + noun + adj
02. feel fortunate
“They feel fortunate to live in such a peaceful and beautiful neighborhood.”
verb + adj
03. prove fortunate
“The decision to sell the company proved fortunate when the market crashed a month later.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. extremely fortunate
“We were extremely fortunate to find a hotel room at such short notice.”
adv + adj
05. fortunate enough to
“I was fortunate enough to receive a full scholarship for my university studies.”
adj + infinitive
06. fortunate for the family
“It was very fortunate for the family that the storm missed their house.”
adj + prep
Adverb
07. singularly fortunate
“He was singularly fortunate in having a mentor who believed in his potential.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“I struggled to lock the back tire to anything, and I considered myself fortunate to not have to figure out how to deal with a flat.” “Manchester City under a new manager were poor and fortunate to overcome Bournemouth .” Etymology
From Middle English fortunat(e) (“fortunate”), from Latin fortūnātus, from fortūna (“fortune, luck”) + -ātus (adjective-forming suffix), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix). See also Middle English fortunaten (“to assure the success (of), make fortunate”); cognate with French fortuné (“lucky”). By surface analysis, fortune + -ate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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