win a fortune

USAGE SUMMARY

'win a fortune' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to talk about someone—or yourself—gaining a large amount of money suddenly. For example: "I'm hoping to win a fortune in the lottery this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

21 Robert Luketic directed this drama, based on a true story, about a group of M.I.T. students who become expert card counters and win a fortune in Las Vegas.

The New Yorker

Sylvia Kneller of Farnham, Surrey, first started responding to the fraudsters when she was 20 years old and says she became "a believer", convinced she would one day win a fortune.

The Guardian - Money

When it was ahead at the first fence, he started shouting loud encouragement and jumping up and down like a schoolboy expecting to win a fortune, desisting only when the horse crossed the finishing line almost last.

The Guardian

After college, Meyer moved to Denver, Colorado, planning to "scientifically" win a fortune through dog racing.

Wikipedia

Imagine a gambler who is willing to lose the family house or farm, all for the opportunity to win a fortune.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Is the man we've seen winning a fortune at roulette cheating?

The Guardian

Daily Mail UK reports that Vivian Nicholson won a fortune in Britain's football pools in 1961: £152,300, or the equivalent of £3 million today.

Independent

He tries to clean out the Deauville casino, but in an ironic twist wins a fortune legally while his raid is in progress.

The Guardian - Film

We seem to have entered dim-bulb territory: People are eager to believe that Woody has won a fortune and refuse to hear David tell them that the prize isn't real.

The New Yorker

Good too to see Gary McNair back at the Traverse with A Gambler's Guide to Dying, about a man who won a fortune on the 1966 World Cup and then waged it again on his own survival.

The Guardian

In fact, he says, he'd written most of this tale of a delightedly thuggish criminal who wins a fortune on the lottery before he left Britain, for family reasons, a year or so ago.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "win a fortune", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the method of wealth acquisition. Avoid using it for gradual wealth accumulation.

Common error

Avoid using "win a fortune" to describe wealth that has been gradually accumulated through hard work, investment or business ventures. "Win a fortune" implies a sudden, often luck-based acquisition of wealth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "win a fortune" functions as a common expression to describe the acquisition of a substantial amount of money or wealth, typically through chance or luck. It is often used to express hope or possibility, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "win a fortune" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood phrase used to describe the acquisition of significant wealth through luck or chance. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While it appears most frequently in news and media, its usage is generally considered neutral. To avoid misuse, remember that it implies a sudden gain rather than gradual accumulation. Consider alternatives such as "strike it rich" or "gain considerable wealth" depending on the specific context you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

draw the winning ticket

Implies a winning chance at the lottery.

strike it rich

An idiomatic expression similar to "win a fortune", but it's more informal and implies sudden luck or success.

get lucky and prosper

Highlights the role of luck in achieving prosperity.

become wealthy overnight

Highlights the suddenness of gaining wealth, similar to winning but not necessarily through winning.

make a killing

Suggests making a large profit quickly, often in a business or investment context.

gain considerable wealth

Focuses on the acquisition of wealth, differing from "win a fortune" by implying a more gradual process.

become a millionaire

Focuses on achieving millionaire status, implying a specific amount of wealth.

amass a large sum of money

More formal and emphasizes the accumulation of money rather than a sudden win.

inherit a vast fortune

Specifies the method of acquiring wealth as inheritance, unlike the more general "win a fortune".

land a lucrative deal

Focuses on a specific deal that results in a large profit, rather than a general fortune.

FAQs

What does "win a fortune" mean?

"Win a fortune" means to acquire a large amount of money or wealth, typically through luck, a contest, or a lottery. It implies a sudden and substantial gain.

What can I say instead of "win a fortune"?

You can use alternatives like "strike it rich", "gain considerable wealth", or "draw the winning ticket" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "earn a fortune" instead of "win a fortune"?

While both phrases involve acquiring wealth, "earn a fortune" suggests accumulating wealth through effort and work, whereas "win a fortune" implies gaining it through luck or chance. Therefore, they are not interchangeable in all contexts.

How to use "win a fortune" in a sentence?

You can use "win a fortune" in a sentence like: "She hopes to win a fortune in the lottery" or "He won a fortune at the casino".