good luck
10 synonyms and 2 antonyms for good luck, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Interjection — Said to someone facing something uncertain or difficult, to wish them a favourable outcome.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. interjection
Said to someone facing something uncertain or difficult, to wish them a favourable outcome.
“Good luck with the interview tomorrow.”
2. noun
Favourable chance; fortune that works in someone's favour.
“It was pure good luck that the flight was delayed and we caught it.”
Opposites
3. interjection informal
Said sarcastically to signal that someone is attempting the impossible.
“You want a refund after ninety days? Good luck.”
How to Use Good Luck
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Warm and universal in the sincere sense, but a bare 'good luck' with a flat tone reads as dismissive, so speech and messages usually add a detail: good luck with the move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between good luck and break a leg?
Break a leg is the theatre-specific version, used precisely because performers traditionally consider wishing good luck unlucky. Outside performance it sounds jokey or odd, so good luck remains the general-purpose wish.
Is it rude to say good luck?
Not in itself, but it can land badly in two situations: when someone wanted help rather than encouragement, and when the tone is flat or the request is obviously hopeless, which turns it sarcastic. Naming what you are wishing them luck with keeps it sincere.