# doomed

/ˈdumd/ (US) · /dˈuːmd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. certain to fail or die

adjective · CEFR B2

certain to fail, die, or be destroyed, with no way to change the result.

For teachers: destined to a tragic or catastrophic fate; certain to suffer death, failure, or ruin.

- The explorers knew their mission was doomed when they ran out of water.
- The peace treaty seemed doomed from the outset, as neither side was willing to make the necessary territorial concessions.

### 2. to make failure certain

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- The bad weather doomed our plans for a picnic in the park.
- The lack of funding effectively doomed the project before the research phase had even concluded.

Usage: Commonly used in the passive form 'to be doomed to' followed by a noun or infinitive.

### 3. fated

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

certain to happen because of fate, whether the result is good or bad.

For teachers: destined or fated to a particular outcome, regardless of its positive or negative nature.

- The old stories tell of a hero doomed to lead his people to a new land.
- In the ancient epic, the protagonist is doomed to wander the seas until he finds the hidden temple of his ancestors.

## Examples

- The plan was doomed from the very start.
- Without a fresh supply of water, the small group of explorers knew their mission was doomed.
- The protagonist's doomed attempt to reclaim his lost inheritance serves as a poignant metaphor for the inevitable decline of the old aristocracy.

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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.