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

Examples of destine in a Sentence

his extreme height seemed to destine him for a career in basketball

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement In both states, there are exemptions for lactating dairy cattle destined for slaughter. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024

Mercedes has not said how many are destined for the U.S. but did say that deliveries of the model will begin next spring. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2024

On April 13, 2023, the European Space Agency launched a rocket carrying a spacecraft destined for Jupiter. —Mike Sori, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2024

The scientists, whose efforts were filmed over a year of a decade-long collaborative effort, accumulated more than 7,000 audio recordings of pigs, some of which were destined for the slaughterhouse and others from free, organic and mass production farms. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2024

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

Kids Definition

destine

verb

des·​tine ˈdes-tən 

destined; destining

1

: to settle in advance

a plan destined to fail

2

: to choose, assign, or dedicate in advance

destined their child for the study of law

3

: to be bound or directed

a ship destined for New York