destine
verb
des·tine ˈde-stən 
destined; destining
transitive verb
1
: to decree beforehand : predetermine
was not destined to attain the throne
2
a
: to designate, assign, or dedicate in advance
believed their son was destined for the priesthood
destined to succeed
a flaw that destines them to fail
b
: to direct, devise, or set apart for a specific purpose or place
freight destined for European ports
Synonyms
- doom
- fate
- foredoom
- foreordain
- ordain
- predestine
- predetermine
- preordain
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
his extreme height seemed to destine him for a career in basketball
Recent Examples on the Web Organizations that adopt a laissez-faire approach and expect that coaching will naturally take root after a successful pilot inevitably destine the previous valiant efforts to come to naught. 
Thomas Lim, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2021 Prospective snooker fans should next watch the 1985 Snooker World Championships final between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor, a mammoth confrontation which seemed destined never to end. Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, 1 May 2020 But the procedural tactics — likely to be quashed — seem destined to founder on the number of Macronists who were swept into the Parliament with his En Marche party, as opponents collapsed around them. Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2020 Up by 13½ games in mid-August, Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers seemed destined. Ben Walker, SFChronicle.com, 16 Jan. 2020 Boeing might have been struggling, but McDonnell Douglas seemed destined for failure. Natasha Frost, Quartz, 3 Jan. 2020 Despite his humble beginnings, Mr. Harrell believed he was destined for more. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 9 May 2020 Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott seem like they were destined to be together—but even true love has its awkward moments. Tierney Mcafee, Country Living, 2 May 2020 By the summer before his last year of college, Dr. King knew he was destined to continue the family profession of pastoral work and decided to enter the ministry. National Geographic, 15 Jan. 2020 See More
Thomas Lim, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2021 Prospective snooker fans should next watch the 1985 Snooker World Championships final between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor, a mammoth confrontation which seemed destined never to end. Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, 1 May 2020 But the procedural tactics — likely to be quashed — seem destined to founder on the number of Macronists who were swept into the Parliament with his En Marche party, as opponents collapsed around them. Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2020 Up by 13½ games in mid-August, Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers seemed destined. Ben Walker, SFChronicle.com, 16 Jan. 2020 Boeing might have been struggling, but McDonnell Douglas seemed destined for failure. Natasha Frost, Quartz, 3 Jan. 2020 Despite his humble beginnings, Mr. Harrell believed he was destined for more. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 9 May 2020 Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott seem like they were destined to be together—but even true love has its awkward moments. Tierney Mcafee, Country Living, 2 May 2020 By the summer before his last year of college, Dr. King knew he was destined to continue the family profession of pastoral work and decided to enter the ministry. National Geographic, 15 Jan. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French destiner, from Latin destinare, from de- + -stinare (akin to Latin stare to stand) — more at stand
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
destined 1 of 2
adjective
as in fated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fated
- predestined
- preordained
- foreordained
- likely
- possible
- probable
- predetermined
- unstoppable
- decided
- inexorable
- inevitable
- relentless
- settled
- unremitting
- unavoidable
- inescapable
- definite
- necessary
- ineluctable
- sure
- unescapable
- certain
- ineludible
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- uncertain
- unsure
- avoidable
- unlikely
- doubtful
- unclear
- questionable
- preventable
- dubious
- evadable
- shaky
- preventible
- undecided
- unreliable
- unsettled
- improbable
- undependable
destined
2 of 2verb
as in doomed
to determine the fate of in advance his extreme height seemed to destine him for a career in basketball Synonyms & Similar Words
- doomed
- ordained
- fated
- predestined
- foredoomed
- predicted
- preordained
- foreordained
- predetermined
- sentenced
- condemned
- prophesied
- presaged
- foretold
- predestinated
- prognosticated
- augured
- anticipated
- forecast
- portended
- divined
- boded
- forecasted
- prejudged
- foresaw
- foreboded
- preconceived
- forboded
- foreknew