1
a
: a force that brings good fortune or adversity
Luck was a big factor in the outcome.
b
: the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual
The loser muttered something about bad luck.
2
: favoring chance
lucked; lucking; lucks
1
: to prosper or succeed especially through chance or good fortune
—usually used with out
the hero lucks out and is able to escape
2
: to come upon something desirable by chance
—usually used with out, on, onto, or into
lucked into a wonderful opportunity
Examples of luck in a Sentence
Noun
We had good luck fishing.
He's been having nothing but bad luck.
He succeeded through hard work and a little luck.
We need a bit of luck.
By a stroke of luck, there were still a few tickets left when we arrived.
“I've been looking for a new apartment.” “Any luck?” “No, not yet.”
I've had no luck in finding a new apartment.
He had no better luck than I did.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Rather than hang out with the two old hags, Cherry decides to try her luck on the stand-up paddleboards with Brigitte and Daniel, but quickly loses her balance.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Don’t leave your career to luck.
—Nirit Cohen, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for luck
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
With any luck, it will someday be reversed, like other famous examples of Supreme Court decisions that reflected prejudice against African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, and others.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Rather than hang out with the two old hags, Cherry decides to try her luck on the stand-up paddleboards with Brigitte and Daniel, but quickly loses her balance.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Players like Lamb and Trevon Diggs also wished Parsons luck.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Don’t leave your career to luck.
—Nirit Cohen, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for luck
Cite this Entry
“Luck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/luck. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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