doom

American  

[doom] / dum /

noun

1. fate or destiny, especially adverse fate; unavoidable ill fortune.

   In exile and poverty, he met his doom.

2. ruin; death.

   to fall to one's doom.

3. a judgment, decision, or sentence, especially an unfavorable one.

   The judge pronounced the defendant's doom.

   Synonyms:

   fate, ruination, downfall, destruction

4. the Last Judgment, at the end of the world.

5. Obsolete. a statute, enactment, or legal judgment.

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verb (used with object)

1. to destine, especially to an adverse fate.

   Synonyms:

   predestine, foreordain

2. to pronounce judgment against; condemn.

3. to ordain or fix as a sentence or fate.

doom British  

/ duːm /

noun

1. death or a terrible fate

2. a judgment or decision

3. (sometimes capital) another term for the Last Judgment

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verb

1. (tr) to destine or condemn to death or a terrible fate

Related Words

See fate.

Other Word Forms

• doomy
  adjective
• predoom
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of doom

First recorded before 900; Middle English dome, dōm, Old English dōm “judgment, law”; cognate with Old Norse dōmr, “judgment, sentence, court,” Gothic dōms “sentence, fame,” all from Germanic dômaz “what has been set,” from dôn “to set, place, do ¹ ( def. ) ”; compare Greek thémis “law” (i.e., “what has been set, laid down”); see deem

Explanation

Doom is death, destruction, the end of the world, the big goodbye. It can also be a verb — if a man twirling a mustache ties you to the railroad tracks, he dooms you to certain death! Doctor Doom is a comic book villain you do not want to mess with. He’s the doctor of death! If you feel that the world is terrible, you’re all doom and gloom. If someone dies, she meets her doom. People usually talk about doom as a type of fate — doom isn't an accident. When doom is a verb, watch out — being slack dooms careers and lies doom relationships. Stay away from all forms of doom.

Example Sentences

In Doom Loop, Prasad ultimately argues economics, domestic politics, and geopolitics are feeding off each other negatively.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

The economist once known as Dr. Doom, after forewarning the Japanese crash of the 1990s, said interest rates are likely to break higher soon, taking the stock market with it.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 9, 2026

“Doomsday,” directed by MCU veterans Anthony and Joe Russo, will feature “Iron Man” actor Robert Downey Jr. as the masked villain Doctor Doom.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2026

This film sees Robert Downey Junior returning, but as villain Doctor Doom.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

Even as he spoke they heard again the pursuing drum-beat: Doom, doom, doom.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

• calamity
• cataclysm
• catastrophe
• disaster
• downfall