luck

UK: /ˈlʌk/ US: /lʌk/ ,(luk)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

luck /lʌk/   n. 

[uncountable]
1. the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life:
   success that owes a lot to luck.
2. good fortune;
   success:
   He had no luck finding work.

v. Informal. 

3. luck into or onto, [~ + object] to meet or obtain through accidental good fortune:
   He just lucked into the job.
4. luck out, [no object] to have an occasion of very good luck;
   be lucky:
   You really lucked out when you found that ten-dollar bill.

Idioms

5. Idioms down on one's luck, in unfortunate circumstances.
6. Idioms in luck, lucky;
   fortunate:
   You're in luck—you won the lottery.
7. Idioms out of luck, unlucky;
   unfortunate:
   You're out of luck; the boss isn't in.
8. Idioms push or crowd one's luck, to threaten one's success by taking further risks;
   go too far.

luck•less, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

luck  (luk), n. 

1. the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities:
   With my luck I'll probably get pneumonia.
2. good fortune;
   advantage or success, considered as the result of chance:
   He had no
   luck finding work.
3. a combination of circumstances, events, etc., operating by chance to bring good or ill to a person:
   She's had nothing but bad luck all year.
4. some object on which good fortune is supposed to depend:
   This rabbit's foot is my luck.
5. Idioms down on one's luck, in unfortunate circumstances;
   unlucky:
   She hated to see her old friend so down on her luck.
6. Idioms in luck, lucky;
   fortunate:
   We were in luck, for the bakery was still open.
7. Idioms luck of the draw, the luck one has in or as if in drawing cards.
8. Idioms out of luck, unlucky;
   unfortunate:
   When it comes to getting World Series tickets, we're usually out of luck.
9. Idioms push one's luck, [Informal.] to try to make too much of an opportunity;
   go too far. Also, crowd one's luck. 

v. Informal. 

10. luck into or onto, to meet, acquire, become, etc., by good luck:
    She lucked into a great job.
11. luck out, to have an instance or run of exceptionally good luck:
    He lucked out when he made a hole in one during the tournament.
12. luck upon, to come across by chance:
    to luck upon a profitable investment.

• Middle Dutch luc, aphetic form of gelucke; cognate with German. Glück
• late Middle English luk 1400–50

Łuck  (lo̅o̅tsk; Pol. wo̅o̅tsk), n. 

1. Place Names Polish name of Lutsk. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

luck / lʌk/ noun

1. events that are beyond control and seem subject to chance; fortune
2. success or good fortune
3. something considered to bring good luck
4. down on one's luck ⇒ having little or no good luck to the point of suffering hardships
5. no such luck ⇒ unfortunately not
6. try one's luck ⇒ to attempt something that is uncertain

Etymology: 15th Century: from Middle Dutch luc; related to Middle High German gelücke, late Old Norse lukka, lykka