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fate

[ feyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot:
It is always his fate to be left behind.
Synonyms: , , ,
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.
the Fates, Classical Mythology. the three goddesses of destiny, known to the Greeks as the Moerae and to the Romans as the Parcae.

verb (used with object)

fated, fating.

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: ,

fate

/ �ڱ�ɪ�� /

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

tr; usually passive to predetermine; doom
he was fated to lose the game

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Word History and Origins

Origin of fate¹

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of fate¹

C14: from Latin ��ٳܳ� oracular utterance, from ��ī to speak

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Idioms and Phrases

seal one's fate
tempt fate

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Synonym Study

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.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Brontë ends up surviving and once again holds Joe at gunpoint while he begs her to kill him so he doesn’t have to face the fate he so deserves.

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But for some, the lesson of history is that Mexico may again suffer the fate of being neighbor to one of the most powerful countries in the world.

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"That was a moment where I thought I really don't understand what's happening to us. It just seemed like I was just having to accept my fate."

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"I sort of see it as fate," she said.

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"We didn't choose Hamas and now Hamas is determined to rule Gaza and tie our fate to its own. Hamas must retreat. "

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

fat depot fated

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