fate

American  

[feyt] / feɪt /

noun

1. something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot.

   It is always his fate to be left behind.

   Synonyms:

   luck, chance, kismet, karma

2. the universal principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed; the decreed cause of events; time.

   Fate decreed that they would never meet again.

3. that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny.

   Death is our ineluctable fate.

4. a prophetic declaration of what must be.

   The oracle pronounced their fate.

5. death, destruction, or ruin.

6. Classical Mythology. the Fates, the three goddesses of destiny, known to the Greeks as the Moerae and to the Romans as the Parcae.

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verb (used with object)

fated, fating

1. to predetermine, as by the decree of fate; destine (used in the passive).

   a person who was fated to be the savior of the country.

   Synonyms:

   preordain, foreordain

fate British  

/ feɪt /

noun

1. the ultimate agency that predetermines the course of events

2. the inevitable fortune that befalls a person or thing; destiny

3. the end or final result

4. a calamitous or unfavourable outcome or result; death, destruction, or downfall

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verb

1. (tr; usually passive) to predetermine; doom

   he was fated to lose the game

fate Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing fate

• seal one's fate
• tempt fate

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Related Words

Fate, destiny, doom refer to the idea of a fortune, usually adverse, that is predetermined and inescapable. The three words are frequently interchangeable. Fate stresses the irrationality and impersonal character of events: It was Napoleon's fate to be exiled. The word is often lightly used, however: It was my fate to meet her that very afternoon. Destiny emphasizes the idea of an unalterable course of events, and is often used of a propitious fortune: It was his destiny to save his nation. Doom especially applies to the final ending, always unhappy or terrible, brought about by destiny or fate: He met his doom bravely.

Etymology

Origin of fate

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, Middle French, from Latin fātum “what has been spoken, utterance, decree of fate, destiny,” originally neuter of fātus, past participle of fārī “to speak”

Explanation

Is it your fate to win a fortune in the lottery and retire young? Better hope so. Fate is like destiny, so that means winning the lottery would be an inevitable outcome. The word fate traces back to the Latin word fatum, meaning “that which has been spoken,” and something that's your fate is a done deal, not open to revision. If you feel like something is your fate, you feel it's beyond your control. Fate is often referred to directly, as if it were a supernatural power: “fate tore us apart." It can also describe your lot in life, like if it's your fate to take over the family farm.

Example Sentences

I was worried that Iggy Pop would have suffered the fate of Devo and David Byrne on Friday and Saturday, respectively, of not having nearly enough fans watching these legends.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

The U.S. could risk the same fate absent faster productivity growth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

As a result, the fate of 2.7 million voters remains undecided.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Spain's Rahm, 31, narrowly avoided the same fate of missing the weekend thanks to a birdie on 16, which moved him to safety at four over.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

But as they made the journey toward an unknown fate, some things did not change.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• chance
• circumstance
• consequence
• destiny
• effect
• future
• issue
• outcome