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

No team is destined to win the Stanley Cup, especially in the salary cap era. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026

Cheap Trick seemed destined for cult-band status. —Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

The insects were said to be destined for European and Asian markets, and Kenyan authorities valued the ants at 1 million shillings ($7,700). —ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026

Healey is embracing a collapsing, expensive wind farm that fishermen hate, kills birds, had a major blade failure and is destined to sock ratepayers with high costs. —Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 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