ENGLISH
REFERENCE

destiny

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdɛstəni// UK //dˈɛstɪni// des·tiny

n. the things that will happen to you in the future. It often feels like these events are planned by a higher power and cannot be changed.

n. the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future. Often implies a predetermined course of events outside of human control.


SIMPLE

She felt it was her destiny to become a doctor.

CONTEXTUAL

The young prince believed his destiny was to unite the warring kingdoms and bring lasting peace.

COMPLEX

While some philosophers argue for absolute free will, others suggest that our character and circumstances create a destiny from which we can rarely deviate.

Synonyms
Origin

From the noun destiny since the 1970s.

Usage

Often used with the definite article ('the') when referring to a specific outcome, or as an uncountable concept in philosophical discussions.

Idioms1 entry

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