Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
predestined

predestined

7.7
Fate or a higher power decides a person's life in advance
  • adjective
  • /ˌpriːˈdɛstɪnd/
translation icon : predestinado
  • Many believe that their paths in life are predestined by a higher power.

And most things are pretty much, you know, kind of not predestined, but they're just the natural consequence of cause and effect.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Yeah, well, I, I will say that to me, victim mindset is the belief that you have no way out, that you, you are predestined to lose this battle.

  • And most things are pretty much, you know, kind of not predestined, but they're just the natural consequence of cause and effect.

    Chris Williamson

  • I thought it was maybe they were talking about some sort of dreamy predestined love story which also concerned me enough.

    DoctorRamani

  • I thought it was maybe they were talking about some sort of dreamy, predestined love story, which also concerned me enough.

  • Yes, Destiny needs to be qualified because you can say if our lives are predestined and basically our free will is doesn't exist.

  • She felt that her success was predestined from the moment she started working hard.

  • According to the ancient texts, the hero was predestined to fulfill a great prophecy.

Synonyms

bound
vspredestined
69 4.2

Certain to happen or be true

suggests divine prior fixing rather than mere likelihood
fated
vspredestined
27 5.3

Certain to happen and not able to be changed

frames the same certainty as an act set beforehand by divine will
foregone
vspredestined
16 4.6

Already decided and certain to happen

implies divine prior fixing rather than simple certainty
destined
vspredestined
6 4.1

Sure to happen or meant to be sent to a certain place

focuses on fixed divine decision rather than general intent
predestinate
vspredestined
  • Formal
1 9.9

Already decided before it happens and cannot be changed, often by fate or God

is the same meaning but a different form
foreordained
vspredestined
  • Formal
1 9.9

Decided before it happens and cannot be changed, often because of fate or a god

stresses determination in advance rather than chance
predetermined
vspredestined
5.3

Decided before it happens

emphasizes divine or fated setting rather than human decision

Antonyms

random
527 3.4

Happening without a plan and by chance

How Predetermined

predestined
7.7
planned
26 1.0
undetermined
20 4.6

Surface Forms

predestined positive

Morphology

predestined = predestine (transparent) = pre + destine + ed

The adjective is a regular past-participial formation from the verb 'predestine' and keeps the same core meaning.

Etymology

Predestined comes from the parts pre- meaning 'before' and destiny meaning 'fate' or a fixed outcome. So, to be predestined is to be decided 'before' it happens, which is why the word means something is thought to be fixed and cannot be changed.