destined
Americanadjective
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bound for a certain destination.
a freighter destined for Manila.
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ordained, appointed, or predetermined to be or do something.
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liable, planning, or intending to be or do something.
adjective
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foreordained or certain; meant
he is destined to be famous
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(usually foll by for) heading (towards a specific destination); directed
a letter destined for Europe
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of destined
Explanation
Someone who's destined is fated or meant to do something. If your mom says you're destined for a life on the stage, she means that it's certain you'll be an actor one day. Being destined for something can be great luck — if, for example, you're destined to be a millionaire. It can also mean something closer to "doomed," as you might be if you're destined to a string of bad luck after breaking a mirror and seeing a black cat run past at the exact same moment. The Old French root is destinée, "purpose, intent, fate, or destiny."
Vocabulary lists containing destined
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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The Tale of Despereaux
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Purple Hibiscus
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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.
It takes a gaggle of great actors to sell a show as objectively ridiculous as “The Gilded Age,” which is entering its fourth season and seems destined to continue forever.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are leading the revamped Lakers roster, but the team is still destined to endure a familiar early postseason exit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
The trouble isn’t that every digital convenience is destined to malfunction.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
They were destined for private buyers in Germany.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
"I put a cold, wet cloth on it as soon as I could, but it was destined to make a scar. Always to remind me of my carelessness."
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
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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.
