ordained; ordaining; ordains
1
: to invest (see invest entry 2 sense 1) officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority
was ordained as a priest
2
a
: to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law : enact
we the people … do ordain and establish this Constitution—
U.S. Constitution
U.S. Constitution
b
: destine, foreordain
It is futile to try to avoid what destiny has ordained.
: to issue an order
so the gods have ordained
ordainer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of ordain in a Sentence
She is an ordained minister.
The process was ordained by law.
Recent Examples on the Web
One 24-year-old, who wished to go by J.M., is working toward becoming ordained as a deacon in the United Methodist Church.
—Sarah Maddox, CBS News, 9 May 2024
When Treasury ordains, and employers collect, who resists such a team?
—Amity Shlaes, National Review, 8 May 2024
An archpriest, ordained for over 10 years, Bock, 66, shared with The Arizona Republic some of the traditions and customs Eastern Orthodox Christians adhere to during their Lenten and Holy Week.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024
The couple’s friend, Elissa Jiji, who was previously ordained by the Universal Life Church, officiated.
—Valeriya Safronova, New York Times, 3 May 2024
Four decades of service Dempsey grew up in Minneapolis and was ordained in the Twin Cities archdiocese in 1980.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2024
Thomas was ordained in 1956 after completing college-level work at St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Mich.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
The posts listed details about Father Kunz, like how he was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1956, and served the parish in Dane for 31 years.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2024
Despite briefly signing with a professional franchise, he felt called to the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1966.
—Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2023
Sarah Maddox, CBS News, 9 May 2024
When Treasury ordains, and employers collect, who resists such a team?
—Amity Shlaes, National Review, 8 May 2024
An archpriest, ordained for over 10 years, Bock, 66, shared with The Arizona Republic some of the traditions and customs Eastern Orthodox Christians adhere to during their Lenten and Holy Week.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024
The couple’s friend, Elissa Jiji, who was previously ordained by the Universal Life Church, officiated.
—Valeriya Safronova, New York Times, 3 May 2024
Four decades of service Dempsey grew up in Minneapolis and was ordained in the Twin Cities archdiocese in 1980.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2024
Thomas was ordained in 1956 after completing college-level work at St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Mich.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
The posts listed details about Father Kunz, like how he was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1956, and served the parish in Dane for 31 years.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2024
Despite briefly signing with a professional franchise, he felt called to the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1966.
—Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ordain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ordain
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordain. Accessed 14 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ordain
verb
or·dain
ȯr-ˈdān 
1
: to make a person a Christian minister or priest by a special ceremony
2
a
: decree entry 2
it was ordained by law
b
: destine sense 1
we seem ordained to fail
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share