fate
Americannoun
-
something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot.
It is always his fate to be left behind.
-
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.
-
that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny.
Death is our ineluctable fate.
-
a prophetic declaration of what must be.
The oracle pronounced their fate.
-
death, destruction, or ruin.
-
Classical Mythology. the Fates, the three goddesses of destiny, known to the Greeks as the Moerae and to the Romans as the Parcae.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
the ultimate agency that predetermines the course of events
-
the inevitable fortune that befalls a person or thing; destiny
-
the end or final result
-
a calamitous or unfavourable outcome or result; death, destruction, or downfall
verb
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
fatesimple
-
fatessimple
-
have fatedperfect
-
has fatedperfect
-
am fatingprogressive
-
are fatingprogressive
-
is fatingprogressive
-
have been fatingperfect progressive
-
has been fatingperfect progressive
Past
-
fatedsimple
-
had fatedperfect
-
was fatingprogressive
-
were fatingprogressive
-
had been fatingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing fate
The Diary of Anne Frank
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Monkey's Paw," Vocabulary from the short story
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act III
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
A truism I’ve learned from years of prognosticating about the fate of tech companies: Once they have a certain amount of talent and capital, startups in particular can be quite nimble.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Our own solar system is expected to experience a similar fate in the distant future.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 16, 2026
The reader felt his brother got the short end of the stick, but he did not appear to be blaming anyone except fate itself.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
In times past, the nation would have learned of the fate of the commonwealth’s senior senator because a bird-dog reporter like Al Cross would have tracked it all down and reported it.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026
The fate of Scion Capital turned on these bets, but that fate was not, in the short run, determined by an open and free market.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
That's the no-man's land they're living in now, frantically looking at the respective fates of Senegal and Ecuador, Curacao and Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and others.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
While there’s nothing particularly novel about that plot, it pulls you along, and the series as a whole is orchestrated to make one care about the characters and worry over their fates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Aiello expects more of its kind will suffer similar fates if nothing is done.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
No comeback of this caliber occurs without something like supernatural help, and the fates of Madison Square Garden did their part on Tuesday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
I moved away from the critic and found myself sitting beside a clairvoyant who loudly predicted the fates of the various characters seen moving their lips up on the screen.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
Their fated romance is the final piece of the puzzle, the pièce de résistance that helps De Palma’s film rise above the other thrillers of its ilk.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
But he was fated to spend more than two-thirds of his career in opposition, and only briefly achieved cabinet rank.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
Mr. Verini’s aim is a vital one: He seeks to go beyond the war crime to give shape and dimension to the everyday Ukrainians fated to become atrocity statistics at the theater.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
If you lack investment discipline and don’t have a plan to handle your winners and losers, you are likely fated to lose more than you should—and to earn less than you could.
From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026
Then the Witch wheeled the horse round so that she fated the crowd and its hind-legs were on the footpath.
From "The Magician's Nephew" by C. S. Lewis
Now was his hope a great bulk of will fating Its wish to being, now felt he he was blind In some point of his seen wish undefined.
From Antinous: A Poem by Pessoa, Fernando António Nogueira
This was a wolf on the defensive, fating a pack which had turned upon his leadership.
From Destiny by Buck, Charles Neville
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.
