something that is to happen or has happened to a particular person or thing; lot or fortune.
the predetermined, usually inevitable or irresistible, course of events.
the power or agency that determines the course of events.
(initial capital letter) this power personified or represented as a goddess.
the Destinies, the Fates.
the future destined for a person or thing; fate; fortune; lot
the predetermined or inevitable course of events
the ultimate power or agency that predetermines the course of events
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.
See fate.
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
Destiny is what's meant to be, what's written in the stars, your inescapable fate. You might think it's your destiny to own a dog, but your sad goldfish survival rate should tell you that happy pets probably aren't in your future. A noun meaning fate, destiny is synonymous with other nouns like divine decree, fortune, and serendipity. There's no avoiding destiny — it's going to happen no matter what you do. But before you get bogged down worrying about what the distant future holds, remember what Winston Churchill said: “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.”
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The runway-turned-test track was overhauled in 2011—new layout, fresh asphalt, safety barriers—and now includes two clinically perfect, constant-radius 180-degree turns: the hairpins of destiny.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Whether he chooses to fulfill his destiny alongside his twin remains to be seen.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
That they’ll meet again Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium seems more like destiny than coincidence, but who wins the reunion may be decided, in part, by factors other than the play on the field.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Cavanaugh wrote that the company will “control our own destiny, play offense and move with urgency.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
He turned back to the forest, inhaling through his narrow snout, poised to walk into his destiny with all the dignity of a withdrawing Usher.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Many of them have already risen sharply, including the Destiny Tech100 closed-end fund, KraneShares Public-Private AI & Technology ETF, and Fundrise Innovation Fund.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026
Ange Postecoglu - another of Guardiola's admirers - also used the tactic when he was Tottenham manager, with Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie narrow in the build-up alongside their defensive midfielder.
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
Shares of closed-end fund Destiny Tech100 have been whipsawed this week, reflecting the promise and peril of trying to access stocks before their IPOs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
But Destiny Tech100 only computes its NAV quarterly, which means investors will not get an update on its fair value until the end of its fiscal second quarter.
From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026
He crooks his finger, and then he and Destiny go to dance, too.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
In fact, the destinies of the three drivers who ultimately contested victory were effectively decided as they intertwined at Turn Nine in the dying seconds of the final session on Saturday.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
Until then, he exhorted his students to control their own destinies, likening AI personalization to the rudder on a sailboat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
Plus, they were fellow petrostates, their destinies tied to the vast pools of oil beneath their sovereign lands.
From Barron's ● May 7, 2026
At a time when many are mourning the relocation of Suehiro, First Street North has become a lesson for other communities seeking to take control of their destinies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2024
“Ye’ve gotta be the ones in charge of yer own destinies, don’t ye?”
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
