# doom

/ˈdum/ (US) · /dˈuːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/doom
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. terrible fate

noun · CEFR B2

a very bad or tragic end that you cannot escape.

For teachers: an inevitable and usually disastrous fate or destiny.

- The hero in the story walked toward his doom with his head held high.
- The prophecy spoke of a kingdom meeting its doom through the betrayal of its own trusted advisors.

### 2. feeling of despair

noun · CEFR B2

a strong feeling that something terrible is going to happen.

For teachers: a psychological state of dread or impending disaster.

- A sense of doom filled the room as the bad news arrived.
- Despite the sunny weather, a lingering sense of doom pervaded the city as the deadline for the peace talks approached.

### 3. the Last Judgment

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

the final judgment of the world in some religions.

For teachers: the final judgment of mankind by God; often used in the phrase 'Day of Doom'.

- Old paintings in the church showed the Day of Doom.
- The medieval fresco depicted the terrors of the Doom, with figures rising from their graves to face final justice.

### 4. to condemn

verb · CEFR B2

to make it certain that someone or something will fail or suffer.

For teachers: to destine or condemn to an unhappy or terrible fate; almost always used in the passive voice.

- The project was doomed to fail because they didn't have enough money.
- The expedition was doomed from the start by a combination of poor planning and exceptionally harsh winter conditions.

Usage: Usually appears in the passive form 'be doomed to'.

## Examples

- The dark clouds filled me with a sense of doom.
- Despite the team's best efforts, a feeling of impending doom hung over the office as the bankruptcy deadline approached.
- The protagonist's tragic flaw ensures his ultimate doom, creating a narrative arc where every attempt at salvation only hastens his inevitable downfall.

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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.