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 child was destined for high office

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 of destine

• doom
• ordain
• fate

Examples of destine in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Just three weeks after taking a no-hitter into the ninth in San Francisco, Cease appeared destined for another shot. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 July 2026

The article is, by my estimation, more than 5,000 words, so Horowitch better hope at least some people are still reading or its argument is destined to go begging. — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026

Though many would describe it as a sexy Western drama, the series centers on the idea that some people seem destined to be together, but only when the timing is finally right. — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

So the market got creative and piped around 7 million barrels of oil per day to the Red Sea that would normally have been destined for the Persian Gulf, according to JPMorgan. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

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

Rhymes for destine

• clandestine
• intestine
• progestin

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