# luck

/ˈɫək/ (US) · /lˈʌk/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. chance events

noun · CEFR A2

the things that happen to you by chance, which you cannot control.

For teachers: the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as shaped by circumstances beyond one's control.

- It was pure luck that I found my keys in the grass.
- Whether the venture succeeds or fails depends as much on sheer luck as it does on the quality of the initial business plan.

### 2. success

noun · CEFR A2

success or good fortune.

For teachers: success or a positive outcome, often used in the context of wishing someone well.

- I wish you the best of luck with your job interview tomorrow.
- After several attempts to fix the engine without any luck, he finally decided to call a professional mechanic.

### 3. randomness in games

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the results of a random process, like rolling dice or a computer program.

For teachers: the outcome of a random number generator or stochastic process in gaming or computing.

- The game relies too much on luck rather than player strategy.
- The developers adjusted the luck mechanics to ensure that rare items dropped more consistently for long-term players.

### 4. to find by chance

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to find or get something good by accident.

For teachers: to acquire or experience something desirable through good fortune; typically used with prepositions like 'into' or 'onto'.

- He lucked into a great apartment just as the prices were rising.
- She lucked onto a rare first-edition copy of the novel while browsing a dusty corner of the local charity shop.

Usage: This verb is intransitive and almost always requires a prepositional phrase starting with 'into', 'onto', or 'upon'.

## Examples

- I had some good luck and found a parking spot right away.
- The team won the game through a combination of hard work and a bit of pure luck.
- While the entrepreneur attributed his success to a rigorous work ethic, he acknowledged that a stroke of luck regarding market timing played a significant role.

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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.