destiny
noun
something that is to happen or has happened to a particular person or thing; lot or fortune.
destiny
American
[des-tuh-nee]
/ ˈdɛs tə ni /
noun
-
destinies
plural
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- future
-
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.
destiny
1
British
/ ˈdɛstɪnɪ /
noun
-
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
Destiny
2
British
/ ˈdɛstɪnɪ /
noun
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.
Synonym Usage
See fate.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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
Explanation
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.”
Vocabulary lists containing destiny
May the 4th Be With You: Star Wars Words
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Holes
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"Bonne Annee," Vocabulary from the personal essay
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"That is how we will remain in control of our destiny," he added.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
That’s where the flamboyantly bonkers Roadster event served as a clear indication that Tesla’s destiny isn’t to become the electric Toyota but rather to merge with SpaceX.
From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2026
Li offers hints of how Field and Adelaide’s destiny came to pass, with a preface and short flash-forward scenes that striate the narrative.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
"It is not just that shopping centres have one destiny; they really don't," says Dr Kardi Somerfield, a lecturer in marketing at the University of Northampton.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
My thoughts turned again to my name and my destiny.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Carney says Canada needs to urgently diversify its trade relationships and has named Thursday's budget -- his second since taking office last year -- "Masters of our Destiny."
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
In his new book ‘The Savage Mind,’ the USC professor and Ojibwe author explores how the myth of Manifest Destiny continues to shape modern American culture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
As university courses go it may raise a few eyebrows, but Destiny McGowan has no doubt that hers was very useful.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
In 2023, Destiny Byassee, a 22-year-old mother in Florida, died after the air bag in her Chevrolet Malibu exploded during a crash, a police officer who investigated the accident told the NHTSA.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Samira was sitting a few feet away, next to Destiny Nathan, the no-nose-ring girl.
From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee
Plus, they were fellow petrostates, their destinies tied to the vast pools of oil beneath their sovereign lands.
From Barron's ● May 7, 2026
Neither he nor his country, he believed, could fulfill their destinies on the world stage without a war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025
"I now appreciate how radical it is for us as women to think about one of the most fundamental parts of our destinies in this way," she wrote on Instagram at the time.
From BBC ● May 11, 2025
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
So what if those heroes never faced their destinies?
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
