destiny

American  

[des-tuh-nee] / ˈdɛs tə ni /

noun

PLURAL

destinies

1. something that is to happen or has happened to a particular person or thing; lot or fortune.

   Synonyms:

   kismet , karma , fate

2. the predetermined, usually inevitable or irresistible, course of events.

   Synonyms:

   future

3. the power or agency that determines the course of events.

4. (initial capital letter)  this power personified or represented as a goddess.

5. the Destinies, the Fates.

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destiny ¹ British  

/ ˈdɛstɪnɪ /

noun

1. the future destined for a person or thing; fate; fortune; lot

2. the predetermined or inevitable course of events

3. the ultimate power or agency that predetermines the course of events

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Destiny ² British  

/ ˈdɛstɪnɪ /

noun

1. the power that predetermines events, personified as a goddess

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Usage

What does destiny mean? Destiny commonly refers to a specific future or outcome that results from a predetermined or inevitable course of events. The word can also refer to the course of events itself or to the power or force thought to make such things happen.A close synonym for all of these senses of the word destiny is fate.Destiny involves what is going to happen, what has to happen, or what is meant to be. If a certain future is said to be someone’s destiny, it can mean that it’s destined (foreordained or predetermined) to happen, or that it should happen. Destiny is often thought to be out of our control, though some people believe you can control your own destiny.Destiny is sometimes personified—represented as a person, such as a goddess who has the power to determine the course of events in life. When used this way, it is often capitalized.Destiny should not be confused with density, which is the quality of how dense or compact something is.Example: I believe it was my destiny to be there that day so that we could meet—it was meant to be.

Related Words

See fate.

Etymology

Origin of destiny

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English destinee, from Old French (noun use of past participle of destiner ), from Latin dēstināta, feminine past participle of dēstināre. See destine, -ee

Example Sentences

Maybe having too much control over our destiny is a bad thing after all.

From Salon

She can predict someone’s destiny by squeezing their hand, the party trick Christopher Walken did in “The Dead Zone.”

From Los Angeles Times

After all, Hamilton went on to say: "I believe there is something extraordinary up ahead in my life and in my destiny. I truly still believe in this team and what we can achieve together."

From BBC

The next time Northern Ireland's squad will be together is in March for two games which could fulfil their World Cup destiny, and O'Neill says his players will be as ready as possible.

From BBC

“I have to believe that these hardships lead to…I believe there is something extraordinary up ahead in my life and in my destiny.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• circumstance
• future
• inevitability
• intention
• objective
• prospect