predetermine

verb

pre·​de·​ter·​mine ˌprē-di-ˈtər-mən 

predetermined; predetermining; predetermines

transitive verb

1

a

: foreordain, predestine

b

: to determine beforehand

2

: to impose a direction or tendency on beforehand

Synonyms

• destine
• doom
• fate
• foredoom
• foreordain
• ordain
• predestine
• preordain

Examples of predetermine in a Sentence

The sex of the child is predetermined when the egg is fertilized.

religious sects that believe that an individual's salvation has been predetermined by God

Recent Examples on the Web

In the new era, three tribes are predetermined, and more often than not, one tribe suffers fools and loses half of its members before the merge, leaving the other two tribes untouched. —Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 9 June 2025

Architecting Freedom In The AI Era The future trajectory of AI's influence on our freedoms is not predetermined. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025

This arrangement is akin to putting the wolf in charge of the hen house — the conclusion seems predetermined. —Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025

Another class action lawsuit filed in November alleged that was a fraud as it was predetermined who would win. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 15 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin praedeterminare, from Latin prae- + determinare to determine

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for predetermine

• redetermine
• birman
• burman
• ermine
• firman
• german
• kirman
• sermon
• spermine
• termen
• termine
• vermin

Kids Definition

predetermine

verb

pre·​de·​ter·​mine ˌprēd-i-ˈtər-mən 

1

: predestine

2

: to decide or settle beforehand

meet at a predetermined place

predetermination

-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən

noun