lucky

lucky — adjective

1. A lucky person experiences unexpected good things in their life, without having

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

A lucky person experiences unexpected good things in their life, without having planned or worked for them. For example, someone who finds money on the street or who survives a car crash without injury is considered lucky.

Example

Ravi felt lucky to have found his wallet on a park bench before anyone took it.

lucky + to-infinitive for chance events

The lucky girl won two free concert tickets in the radio station's morning contest.

Common collocations
  • lucky to be alive
  • lucky to have someone
  • lucky that
  • feel lucky
  • consider yourself lucky
  • lucky winner
  • lucky guy / lucky girl
Synonyms
  • fortunate

    more formal; suggests a positive outcome that matters

  • blessed

    implies gratitude or a sense of divine favour

  • charmed

    suggests an almost magical run of good luck

Antonyms
  • unlucky

    direct opposite; bad things happen by chance

Grammar Patterns

lucky + to-infinitive

lucky + that-clause

be + lucky

feel / consider yourself + lucky

Usage Note

Common in the pattern 'lucky + to-infinitive' (e.g. 'lucky to be alive') and 'lucky + that-clause' (e.g. 'lucky that someone was there'). This is the only sense that freely combines with these structures. When used attributively before a noun ('a lucky winner'), it describes the person's general fortune rather than a single event.

Common Mistakes

I was lucky winning the prize.
I was lucky to win the prize.
After 'lucky', use the to-infinitive form, not the -ing form.
He is a lucky person who always gets what he wants.
He is a lucky person
good things always happen to him.' — 'Lucky' means things happen by chance, not because someone tries to get what they want.

2. An object, number, colour, or action that people believe brings good fortune or

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

An object, number, colour, or action that people believe brings good fortune or success, often because of tradition or superstition. For example, a particular charm someone carries to an exam or a number they bet on in a lottery.

Example

Priya wore her lucky necklace to every job interview and credited it for her success.

lucky + noun (lucky necklace)

The coach kept a lucky coin in his pocket throughout the entire championship season.

Common collocations
  • lucky charm
  • lucky number
  • lucky colour
  • lucky coin
  • lucky socks
  • lucky day
  • lucky star
Synonyms
  • auspicious

    more formal; signals a promising start

  • propitious

    very formal; suggests favourable conditions

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

lucky + noun

Usage Note

Almost always used directly before a noun — 'lucky charm', 'lucky number', 'lucky colour'. Unlike Sense 1, it does not work with structures like 'lucky to...' or 'lucky that...'. The belief is usually personal or cultural, not a proven fact.

Common Mistakes

This ring is lucky to bring me money.
This ring is my lucky ring.
Sense 2 does not take 'lucky to + verb'. Use the simple "lucky + noun" pattern.

3. An event, result, or situation that happens because of good fortune rather than

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

An event, result, or situation that happens because of good fortune rather than through skill, effort, or careful planning. For example, a guess that turns out correct by accident, or an escape from danger that was not arranged.

Example

It was a lucky break that the bus arrived just as Yusuf reached the bus stop.

lucky break — a fortunate chance event

Finding a parking spot right in front of the restaurant on a Saturday night was pure luck.

Common collocations
  • lucky break
  • lucky guess
  • lucky coincidence
  • lucky escape
  • lucky shot
  • lucky strike
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

lucky + noun

be + lucky

it was lucky (that)

Usage Note

Frequently used in the impersonal structure 'It is/was lucky (that)...' to comment on a situation. Unlike Sense 1, this sense does not describe a person — it describes the event or situation itself. Distinguish from Sense 1: a person is lucky (they experience good fortune); an outcome is lucky (it results from chance).

Idioms

lucky you / lucky me / lucky him etc.

idiom

Used as an exclamation to say that someone is fortunate to have or experience something, sometimes with a hint of envy or humour.

"I am spending the weekend in Kyoto." "Lucky you! I wish I could go too."

Theo found a hundred dollars on the sidewalk and thought, "Lucky me!"

third time lucky

idiom

Said when you have failed at something twice before and you hope to succeed on the third attempt. In American English, the more common form is 'third time's the charm'.

Yara failed her driving test twice, but she told herself "third time lucky" before the next try.

Kofi missed two job interviews this month and smiled weakly, hoping for third time lucky.

thank your lucky stars

idiom

To feel very grateful and fortunate about something good that happened, especially when a bad outcome was narrowly avoided.

After the car skidded on the icy road without hitting anything, Nadia thanked her lucky stars.

You should thank your lucky stars that a neighbour heard the smoke alarm before the fire spread further.

get lucky

idiom

To experience good fortune or success, often unexpectedly.

Maya got lucky and found a twenty-dollar bill on the sidewalk.

Did Diego get lucky and win the raffle prize?

lucky you, me, etc.

idiom

Used to express that someone is fortunate to have or do something.

Sara is going to Hawaii next week. Lucky her!

You got the last ticket? Lucky you!

strike (it) lucky

idiom

To have good luck, especially in a situation where success is not guaranteed.

We struck it lucky when we found a parking spot right away.

Brian struck lucky and got the job he wanted.

you’ll be lucky

idiom

Used to tell someone that what they expect or hope for is unlikely to happen.

You think you'll get a raise? You'll be lucky.

He hopes to finish the project today. He'll be lucky.

you, etc. should be so lucky

idiom

Used to tell someone they are unlikely to get what they hope for, and may not deserve it.

You expect an apology from him? You should be so lucky.

She thinks she'll get a promotion. She should be so lucky.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe someone who experiences good things, but they differ in tone and implication. 'Lucky' (A2) is the everyday word — it simply means good things happen by chance, with no suggestion of deserving them ('a lucky guess', 'lucky to be alive'). 'Fortunate' (B2) is more formal and often implies that the good outcome matters significantly ('fortunate to escape unharmed'). 'Blessed' (B2) carries a feeling of deep gratitude and often a religious or spiritual sense of divine gift ('blessed with good health'). 'Charmed' (C1) suggests an almost magical or continuous run of luck that seems to protect someone from harm ('a charmed life'). 'Favoured' (B2) implies that someone receives special treatment, either from fate or from other people. Use 'lucky' for casual everyday talk about chance events; use 'fortunate' in more serious or formal writing; use 'blessed' when expressing genuine gratitude; and use 'charmed' for a literary or slightly envious tone about someone who always seems to avoid trouble.

fortunate ↗blessedcharmedfavoured

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • very lucky
  • really lucky
  • extremely lucky
  • incredibly lucky
  • damn lucky (informal)
  • pretty lucky

Phrases

  • lucky enough to
  • more lucky than good
  • lucky streak
  • run of lucky

Prepositions

  • lucky for
  • lucky with
  • lucky in

Etymology

Middle DutchEnglish

The word 'lucky' comes from the noun 'luck', which entered English in the 15th century from Middle Dutch 'luc', a shortened form of 'gheluc' meaning 'happiness, good fortune'. The suffix '-y' was added to form an adjective meaning 'having or bringing luck'. Before 'luck' entered the language, English speakers used 'fortune' (from French) or 'wyrd' (from Old English, meaning 'fate'). The idea that luck is an impersonal force that randomly favours or harms people became widespread in the 16th century.