# destiny

/ˈdɛstəni/ (US) · /dˈɛstɪni/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/destiny
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. predetermined future

noun · CEFR B2

a power that is believed to control what happens in the future.

For teachers: the agency or irresistible power conceived of as determining the future; often treated as an abstract, personified force.

- Some people believe that their destiny is written in the stars before they are born.
- The ancient Greeks often depicted destiny as a force that even the gods were powerless to circumvent.

### 2. personal life path

noun · CEFR B2

the things that will happen to a person in their life, which may feel like they were meant to happen.

For teachers: the eventual fate or particular state of a person or thing in the future, whether viewed as inevitable or as a goal to be achieved.

- She felt that it was her destiny to become a famous surgeon and help people.
- After years of wandering, he finally felt he had fulfilled his destiny by returning to his ancestral home to lead the community.

## Examples

- She felt it was her destiny to become a doctor.
- The young prince believed his destiny was to unite the warring kingdoms and bring lasting peace.
- While some philosophers argue for absolute free will, others suggest that our character and circumstances create a destiny from which we can rarely deviate.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.