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

One big question has always been whether cells in the ectoderm were already destined to become the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. — Mike McRae 21, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026

Quantum Frederick is destined to dwarf the relatively tiny, 18-acre Vantage VA2 campus just across the state border. — Scott Neuman, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026

This was their first commercial project and my first bakery, so in many ways, it was destined to be. — Samantha Rees, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026

Its Raynesway facility will produce the reactors destined for Australia’s new fleet while continuing its role in Britain’s submarine program. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 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