destiny

[des-tuh-nee]

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.

destiny

¹

/ 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

Destiny

²

/ ˈdɛstɪnɪ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of destiny¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of destiny¹

C14: from Old French destinee, from destiner to _destine

Synonym Study

See fate.

Example Sentences

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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."

Read more on BBC

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described meeting Liverpool in his 1,000th game as a manager as "the destiny of the universe" after their shared domination of English football in recent years.

Read more on BBC

Rioux sat out all of last season before making his date with destiny on Thursday night.

Read more on Barron's

Mr. Shannon, one of our more distinctive and daring actors, creates an irresistible Garfield, but it is the destiny of the actor and the role to be eclipsed by Matthew Macfadyen and his Charles Guiteau.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• circumstance 
• future 
• inevitability www.thesaurus.com
• intention 
• objective 
• prospect 

When To Use

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.