ordain

verb

or·dain | \ ȯr-ˈdān

ordained; ordaining; ordains

Definition of ordain

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

2a : to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law : enact we the people … do ordain and establish this Constitution — U.S. Constitution

b : destine, foreordain It is futile to try to avoid what destiny has ordained.

intransitive verb

: to issue an order so the gods have ordained

Other Words from ordain Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about ordain

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of ordain in a Sentence

She is an ordained minister. The process was ordained by law.

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite the public push for a Barrett nomination, her selection is not pre-ordained. — Rachel Van Dongen, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Trump's trade war is getting very real," 3 July 2018 So much so that the band has become as close as family: founding member Mike Love even got ordained and officiated Stamos and McHugh’s wedding ceremony. — Scott Huver, PEOPLE.com, "John Stamos — Host of PBS’s Annual Broadcast of A Capitol Fourth —Calls Fatherhood 'a Dream'," 31 May 2018 Conroy entered the Society of Jesus in 1973 and was ordained a priest in 1983. — Jim Ryan, OregonLive.com, "27-year-old man drowns near Amity, authorities say," 3 May 2018 But some male pastors and preachers wield so much power in their churches that they rarely are confronted, said Reynolds, of Washington, D.C., who was ordained in 1996. — Corey Williams, Fox News, "For black women at church, it's more than the Aretha eulogy," 9 Sep. 2018 Bishop Jenik, born in Manhattan, was ordained a priest in 1970. — WSJ, "Official at Archdiocese of New York Accused of Sex Abuse," 31 Oct. 2018 Sometime after her first husband came out of the closet, she got ordained as a minister to marry LGBTQ couples. — Samantha Leach, Glamour, "Fran Drescher Was Always Ahead of Her Time," 30 Aug. 2018 O'Brien was ordained for the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, in 1961 and served as an associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Douglas. — Fox News, "Retired Phoenix Bishop Thomas O'Brien dies at 82," 27 Aug. 2018 For a manner of nourishment that is biologically ordained, breastfeeding has long been subject to societal whims. — Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, "The Breastfeeding Movement Is Experiencing a Tech Revolution—Here's How It's Helping New Moms," 11 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ordain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.