Fortune vs We all have a destiny

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Fortune

Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun

We all have a destiny

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Fortune
 FortuneWe all have a destiny
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːtʃuːn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrtʃən/"]/🇬🇧 //wiː ɔːl hæv ə ˈdɛstɪni//🇺🇸 //wi ɔl hæv ə ˈdɛstəni//
MeaningA lot of money or good luck.Our future that is meant to happen.
ExampleShe decided to test her fortune by playing the lottery.We all have a destiny that should guide our choices.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsconsiderable, enormous, great, accumulate, acquire, amass, hunter, fortune from, fortune in, fortune on, fame and fortune, heir to a fortune, heiress to a fortune, good, bad, ill, piece, stroke, have, bring (somebody), be on somebody’s side, favour/​favor somebody, smile on somebody, as good fortune would have it, a change in fortune, a change of fortune, declining, flagging, changing, boost, improve, revive, change, fluctuate, improve, a reversal of fortune, a reversal of fortunes, read, tell, teller, tellingembrace your destiny, fulfill your destiny, discover your destiny, fight against destiny, change your destiny
Antonymspoverty, misfortune-
Common mistakesConfused with 'fortuitous' — relates to chance, not wealth., Placing 'a' before 'fortune' when referencing large amounts, e.g., 'a fortune' not 'fortune'.Confused with 'fate' - destiny implies a predetermined path, while fate can refer to unexpected outcomes., Misinterpreted as only negative; destiny can also be positive., Used too casually; it's often a serious concept.
Usage notesUsed in contexts related to wealth or luck. Not typically used in formal business conversations.Used in discussions about fate and life choices; can be philosophical or spiritual. Not suitable for casual or humor contexts.

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We all have a destiny

Frequently asked questions: Fortune vs We all have a destiny

What's the difference between Fortune and We all have a destiny?

Fortune: A lot of money or good luck. We all have a destiny: Our future that is meant to happen.

Which is more common: Fortune and We all have a destiny?

Fortune is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Fortune: She decided to test her fortune by playing the lottery. We all have a destiny: We all have a destiny that should guide our choices.

Can I use Fortune and We all have a destiny interchangeably?

Not always. Fortune and We all have a destiny are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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