# fortunately

/ˈfɔɹtʃənətɫi/ (US) · /fˈɔːtʃənətli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fortunately
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. luckily

adverb · CEFR A2

used to say that something good happened or that a situation is lucky.

For teachers: used as a sentence modifier to express that the situation described is fortunate or lucky.

- I forgot my umbrella, but fortunately, it didn't rain while I was walking.
- Fortunately, the emergency services arrived within minutes of the call, preventing the fire from spreading to the adjacent buildings.

### 2. in a lucky way

adverb · CEFR B2

in a way that shows good luck or success.

For teachers: in a fortunate or auspicious manner; modifying a specific action rather than the whole sentence.

- The business was fortunately placed to benefit from the new laws.
- The company was fortunately positioned within the market, allowing it to expand rapidly during the economic recovery.

## Examples

- Fortunately, the rain stopped before the wedding started.
- I forgot my wallet at home, but fortunately, my friend offered to pay for my lunch.
- The hikers lost their map in the storm; fortunately, they encountered a local guide who was able to lead them safely back to the base camp.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.