Word
luckily
Phoneticsluck·i·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫəkəɫi/
UK/lˈʌkili/
Sentence adverb
Definition
adv. used to say that something good happened by chance. You use it when you are glad about a situation that could have been worse.
adv. by good fortune or chance. Functions as a disjunct to express the speaker's positive attitude toward the event described.
Examples
“Luckily, the rain stopped before the party started.”
“I forgot my keys, but luckily my roommate was still at home to let me in.”
“The driver lost control on the icy patch, but luckily the car came to a halt just inches from the safety barrier.”
Examples
simple
“Luckily, the rain stopped before the party started.”
contextual
“I forgot my keys, but luckily my roommate was still at home to let me in.”
complex
“The driver lost control on the icy patch, but luckily the car came to a halt just inches from the safety barrier.”
Usage
Sentence adverb — typically placed at the very beginning of a sentence followed by a comma.
Pitfall
I luckily found my wallet.
Luckily, I found my wallet.
While it can appear mid-sentence, it is most natural and common for this adverb to sit at the start of the sentence to modify the entire statement.
Etymology
From lucky + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/luckily