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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Your luck in life is predestined in a way. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025 Josh Allen plowed his way through, as if predestined to cross the plane fully upright. Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 As the Bank of Russia pushed interest rates higher, the dollar was predestined to grow since it is often considered a comparatively secure asset. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 George eventually played college football at Iowa and according to his mom, he was almost predestined for the gridiron. Nasha Smith, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024 Mary Barra’s rise from an intern to the corner office of General Motors seems almost predestined. Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2024 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

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Predestine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predestine. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

predestine

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

More from Merriam-Webster on predestine

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