English Dictionary

LUCKY (luckier, luckiest)

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

Irregular inflected forms: luckier  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation, luckiest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lucky mean? 

LUCKY (adjective)
  The adjective LUCKY has 3 senses:

1. occurring by chanceplay

2. having or bringing good fortuneplay

3. presaging or likely to bring good luck or a good outcomeplay

  Familiarity information: LUCKY used as an adjective is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


LUCKY (adjective)

 Declension: comparative and superlative 
Comparative: luckier  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Superlative: luckiest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Occurring by chance

Context example:

a lucky guess

Similar:

fortunate (having unexpected good fortune)

Derivation:

luck (an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome)

luckiness (an auspicious state resulting from favorable outcomes)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Having or bringing good fortune

Context example:

a lucky man

Similar:

apotropaic (having the power to prevent evil or bad luck)

hot (having or bringing unusually good luck)

serendipitous (lucky in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries)

Also:

fortunate (having unexpected good fortune)

Antonym:

unlucky (having or bringing misfortune)

Derivation:

luck (an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome)

luckiness (an auspicious state resulting from favorable outcomes)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Presaging or likely to bring good luck or a good outcome

Synonyms:

favorable; favourable; golden; lucky; prosperous

Context example:

a prosperous moment to make a decision

Similar:

propitious (presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success)

Derivation:

luckiness (an auspicious state resulting from favorable outcomes)


 Context examples 


This year we are lucky because for many years, Mercury was consistently retrograde during December’s holiday shopping period.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

“This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!” said Mrs. Bennet more than once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Some day, if you're lucky, you may come pretty close to knowing all that may be known.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It’s lucky for you, my man, that nothing is missing, or you would find yourself in Queer Street.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We may get a scoop, if we are lucky.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"And I am sure, Sir," said Mrs Musgrove, "it was a lucky day for us, when you were put captain into that ship. We shall never forget what you did."

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Lucky for you I am, for if I put on crushed airs and tried to be dismal, as you do, we should be in a nice state.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The lucky eat the most and move the longest, that is all.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Well, said my aunt, that's lucky, for I should like it too.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It was lucky the Scarecrow and the Woodman were wide awake and heard the wolves coming.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Too many chiefs and not enough indians." (English proverb)

"A good friend is recognized in times of trouble" (Bulgarian proverb)

"Wishing does not make a poor man rich." (Arabic proverb)

"He who studies does not waste his time." (Corsican proverb)



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