# fortune

/ˈfɔɹtʃən/ (US) · /fˈɔːtʃuːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fortune
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. luck or chance

noun · CEFR B1

luck or the way things happen by chance.

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

- Fortune smiled on us, and we found a parking spot right in front of the restaurant.
- Whether by skill or by mere fortune, the explorer managed to avoid the storm that sank the rest of the fleet.

### 2. a large amount of money

noun · CEFR B1

a very large amount of money or wealth.

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

- He made a fortune by selling his tech company to a larger business.
- The family lost their entire fortune during the economic collapse, forcing them to sell their estate and move to a modest apartment.

### 3. future or destiny

noun · CEFR B2

what is going to happen to you in the future.

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

- The company's fortunes began to improve after they hired a new manager.
- The political fortunes of the minister shifted rapidly following the publication of the controversial report.

### 4. a prediction

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: a prophecy or prediction regarding a person's future life.

- The woman at the fair told my fortune using a deck of cards.
- Superstitious by nature, the king refused to go to war until he had consulted a seer to have his fortune told.

## Examples

- The old house is worth a small fortune now.
- He spent a fortune on his daughter's wedding, sparing no expense for the flowers or the food.
- The family's fortune fluctuated wildly over the decades, reflecting the volatile nature of the industrial markets they had invested in so heavily.

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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.