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to destine

to destine

163 5.7
To decide that someone or something will have a certain future
  • verb
  • /ˈdɛstɪn/
translation icon : destinar a
  • Lisa and I were destined to be together.
  • seems destined
  • destined to become
  • destined to return

Or is this destined to be a doomed relationship in the long run?

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Examples

  • You know, the historian George Santiana once said those who do not appreciate history are destined to repeat it.

  • A significant portion of all the catch is destined for American dinner tables.

    Academic text (2017)
  • And I think us, we are destined to destroy ourselves.

  • And I hope that California is not destined to remain this kind of California.

  • You are destined for nothing more than failure.

  • Technology and engineering education is destined to become the most important subject in future education.

    Academic text (2011)
  • For a while, I had been convinced that we had been destined for each other.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The West as a whole seems destined for a politics of conduct rather than class.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Each man knows that whoever survives this competition is destined to become a legend in his own time.

  • She believes that they are destined to achieve great things together.

Synonyms

to intend
vsto destine
405 2.8

Plan for someone or something to be used for a particular purpose

is more about deciding future as if by fate rather than personal planning
to designate
vsto destine
  • Formal
124 5.0

To officially choose someone for a job or role

is broader, meaning to determine future occurrence beyond formal appointment
to doom
vsto destine
113 5.8

Cause something to fail or be ruined

is more neutral and can mean planned outcome or fate not only disaster
to specify
vsto destine
  • Specialized
61 3.9

To choose someone for a particular job or role

is more about deciding a future outcome rather than listing technical requirements
to predetermine
vsto destine
23 5.8

Decide or make a result likely before it happens

is more about fate or meant occurrence rather than mere planning
to predestine
vsto destine
6 9.2

To decide in advance, often by fate or God's will

is a neutral decision not necessarily tied to divine will
to fate
vsto destine
4 7.4

To be chosen by destiny to have a certain result

is used for decisions that may be human intention rather than higher power
to predestinate
vsto destine
  • Formal
1 9.9

Decide in advance that something will happen, often by fate or God

is used broadly for decisions not limited to divine ordaining
to foredoom
vsto destine
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To make someone certain to fail or end badly

is neutral in result and not focused only on negative outcomes

How Certain

to guarantee
2.8
to destine
163 5.7
to plan
1.0
to intend
2.4
to hope
1.0

Surface Forms

destine infinitive
destined past
destined past participle
destining present participle
destines third person singular

Etymology

Destine comes from the old Latin verb destinare, which means 'to set' or 'fix' and is the same root you see in destination and destiny. So, to destine someone or something is to 'set' their future for a particular place or role, often with the idea it is meant to happen.