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predetermined

predetermined

5.3
Decided before it happens
  • adjective
  • /ˌpriːdɪˈtɜːrmɪnd/
translation icon : predeterminado
  • He's sort of playing a role, and the contours of the role are predetermined by someone other than him.

According to Democritus, they move in predetermined courses.

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Examples

  • Now this outlet timer will turn on or off anything you plug into it at a predetermined time of day or night.

  • The schedule was set with a predetermined start and end time to ensure everything ran smoothly.

  • This machine R has a fixed predetermined size.

  • They have predetermined your success level based off where you come from and the people who were like you before you got there.

  • According to Democritus, they move in predetermined courses.

  • The curriculum eats up the swimmers who don't swim in predetermined ways.

  • Those nodules are predetermined flower buds the year before the plant actually determines which branches it's going to pick to flower on.

  • Judas's betrayal was not a random act, but predetermined with its own mysterious place in the economy of redemption.

  • Their predetermined seating arrangements were designed to foster collaboration among team members.

  • She followed a predetermined path during the experiment to maintain consistency in her results.

Synonyms

planned
vspredetermined
26 1.0

Arranged before it happens on purpose

is often firmer and not left open to later choice
foregone
vspredetermined
16 4.6

Already decided and certain to happen

is about prior decision rather than inevitability or certainty
destined
vspredetermined
6 4.1

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

is decided earlier by choice rather than by fate
preset
vspredetermined
1 3.9

Set in advance before use, often by the maker

covers many advance decisions beyond technical settings
preplanned
vspredetermined
1 3.3

Arranged before something happens

is the general notion of earlier decision, not only formal planning
predesignated
vspredetermined
1 6.3

Chosen in advance for a particular use

is more general, not limited to assigned roles
foreordained
vspredetermined
  • Formal
1 9.9

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

is about earlier human decision rather than divine decree
predestinate
vspredetermined
  • Formal
1 9.9

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

is decided beforehand but not necessarily unchangeable or fated
pre-established
vspredetermined
4.2

Decided or arranged before something happens

is the broader idea of decisions made ahead rather than chance
prearranged
vspredetermined
3.4

Planned before it happens

is similar but can come from a single decision or factor
preconcerted
vspredetermined
9.1

Arranged or agreed before someone carries it out

is broader and can be set without group coordination
arranged
vspredetermined
1.6

Placed in a planned order

focuses more on the decision made before any arrangement
preformulated
vspredetermined
6.5

Made before use by following a set recipe, like a cream or liquid

is less technical and applies to general advance decisions
prepense
vspredetermined
  • Archaic
9.9

Planned in advance, often to do something illegal

can be decided earlier without strong deliberate planning
predestined
vspredetermined
7.7

Fate or a higher power decides a person's life in advance

is based on prior decision, not on supernatural inevitability
predeterministic
vspredetermined
  • Specialized
8.6

A process or system whose result is fixed before it happens

refers to advance decision without implying a deterministic theory

Antonyms

27 4.9

A plan or agreement that has no fixed end and can change

1 4.1

Not put in order and left messy

How Predetermined

predetermined
5.3
decided
2.6
planned
26 1.0
undetermined
20 4.6

Surface Forms

predetermined positive

Morphology

predetermined = predetermine (transparent) = pre + determine + ed

The adjective is a regular past-participial form of 'predetermine' and keeps the same core meaning of having been decided in advance.

Etymology

Predetermined is made of pre- 'before' and determine 'to decide', so it literally means 'decided before'. That's why something predetermined (like a time or plan) is set in advance and not left to chance.