fortune

1 of 2

noun

for·​tune ˈfȯr-chən How to pronounce fortune (audio)
1
a
: a very large sum of money
spent a fortune redecorating
b
: riches, wealth
a man of fortune
c
: a store of material possessions
the family fortune
2
a
: 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
3
: destiny, fate
can tell your fortune
also : a prediction of fortune
4
often capitalized : a hypothetical force or personified power that unpredictably determines events and issues favorably or unfavorably
a country favored by fortune
5
obsolete : accident, incident

fortune

2 of 2

verb

fortuned; fortuning

transitive verb

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

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. The book follows the fortunes of two families through the years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The two-part title story tells of a husband and wife who fled Mexico after the husband made a fortune by skimming from his job in the public works department. Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 10 Nov. 2024 Those making these gifts are spending down fortunes that a thriving market economy can deliver. Sally C. Pipes, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 Garnett has been playing recently with Loong (who sits 19th), so their fortunes are tied together. Todd Boss, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Harris’ fortunes improved dramatically following Trump’s six-hour rally at Madison Square Garden, a chest-thumping extravaganza that the bettors reckoned would antagonize female voters on the fence. Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fortune 

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fortune was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near fortune

Cite this Entry

“Fortune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortune. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

fortune

noun
for·​tune
ˈfȯr-chən
1
a
: favorable results that come partly by chance : good luck
b
: what happens to a person : good or bad luck
follows the fortunes of two families through the years
2
: what is to happen to one in the future
had my fortune told
also : a prediction of fortune
3
a
: the possession of material goods : wealth
b
: a store of material possessions : riches
the family fortune
c
: a large sum of money

More from Merriam-Webster on fortune

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