English Reference
noun

fortune

n.
US /ˈfɔɹtʃən/ UK /fˈɔːtʃuːn/ for·tune UK spelling fortune's, fortune's, fortuning

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    luck or the way things happen by chance.

    the power or force that determines the course of events; chance or luck as an external influence.

    Simple

    Fortune smiled on us, and we found a parking spot right in front of the restaurant.

    In context

    Whether by skill or by mere fortune, the explorer managed to avoid the storm that sank the rest of the fleet.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    a very large amount of money or wealth.

    a large sum of money or a vast accumulation of assets and property.

    Simple

    He made a fortune by selling his tech company to a larger business.

    In context

    The family lost their entire fortune during the economic collapse, forcing them to sell their estate and move to a modest apartment.

    pittance
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    what is going to happen to you in the future.

    the success or failure of a person or enterprise over a period of time; one's destiny.

    Simple

    The company's fortunes began to improve after they hired a new manager.

    In context

    The political fortunes of the minister shifted rapidly following the publication of the controversial report.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a prediction about what will happen in your life, often told by a 'fortune teller'.

    a prophecy or prediction regarding a person's future life.

    Simple

    The woman at the fair told my fortune using a deck of cards.

    In context

    Superstitious by nature, the king refused to go to war until he had consulted a seer to have his fortune told.

A former mayor of Dendermonde, Piet Buyse, told HLN that the Van Assche’s fortune had “certainly stayed in the family.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

Instead, by the time of his death in 1931, Straus had donated much of his fortune.

The Conversation· 11 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated