1 fortune | Definition of fortune

fortune

noun
for·​tune | \ ˈfȯr-chən How to pronounce fortune (audio) \

Definition of fortune

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 often capitalized : a hypothetical force or personified power that unpredictably determines events and issues favorably or unfavorably a country favored by fortune
2 obsolete : accident, incident
3a : prosperity attained partly through luck : success fortune attended the general's campaign
c fortunes plural : the turns and courses of luck accompanying one's progress (as through life) her fortunes varied but she never gave up
4 : destiny, fate can tell your fortune also : a prediction of fortune
5a : riches, wealth a man of fortune
b : a store of material possessions the family fortune
c : a very large sum of money spent a fortune redecorating

fortune

verb
fortuned; fortuning

Definition of fortune (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 obsolete : to give good or bad fortune to
2 archaic : to endow with a fortune

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Synonyms & Antonyms for fortune

Synonyms: Noun

future

Antonyms: Noun

past

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Examples of fortune in a Sentence

Noun

He hoped to achieve fame and fortune. They had the good fortune to escape injury when their car crashed.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Changing coaches hasn’t done much to change Gadsden City’s football fortunes. — Josh Bean | Jbean@al.com, al, "See this week’s Huntsville HS football picks," 10 Sep. 2019 Snap pictures of magicians and fortune-tellers, then venture into the medina’s maze of market stalls. — National Geographic, "Morocco Community Service: Cultural Preservation," 10 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fortune.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of fortune

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for fortune

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin fortuna; akin to Latin fort-, fors chance, luck, and perhaps to ferre to carry — more at bear

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More Definitions for fortune

fortune

noun

English Language Learners Definition of fortune

: a very large amount of money
somewhat formal : a great amount of money or possessions
: something that happens by chance

fortune

noun
for·​tune | \ ˈfȯr-chən How to pronounce fortune (audio) \

Kids Definition of fortune

1 : a large sum of money
2 : what happens to a person : good or bad luck
3 : what is to happen to someone in the future I had my fortune told.
4 : wealth sense 1 They are a family of great fortune.

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