predestine

verb

pre·​des·​tine (ˌ)prē-ˈde-stən How to pronounce predestine (audio)
predestined; predestining; predestines

transitive verb

: to destine, decree, determine, appoint, or settle beforehand
especially : predestinate sense 1

Examples of predestine in a Sentence

our victory in the tournament was seemingly predestined
Recent Examples on the Web Though Kendall finished well before Stricker on Sunday, the result felt predestined. Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2023 Faith Pinho: Paulina and Bobby were predestined in the truest sense of the word. The Foretold Team, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2023 Assiette Champenoise, Tinqueux Chef Arnaud Lallement’s fate as a chef seemed predestined. Mary Squillace, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2023 Genes do not predestine one individual to complete fewer years of schooling than another or one individual to score higher on a cognitive performance test than another. Robbee Wedow, Scientific American, 26 May 2022 Indeed, most huaren are pragmatists who see a Chinese family history as useful but not predestining. The Economist, 28 May 2020 Similarly, his playing of games such as Risk and Civilization seemed to predestine him to amass great power. Christina Passariello, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2020 And in a way that almost feels predestined, one of the windows of the center looks out onto the church that Fred Rogers used to attend. NBC News, 24 Oct. 2019 Tee and Elle’s growing connection is predestined to result in doom, but these two crazy kids can’t let go of each other. Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, 2 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'predestine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French predestiner, from Latin praedestinare, from prae- + destinare to determine — more at destine

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of predestine was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near predestine

Cite this Entry

“Predestine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predestine. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

predestine

verb
pre·​des·​tine (ˈ)prē-ˈdes-tən How to pronounce predestine (audio)
: to decide beforehand especially by divine command

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