# fate

/ˈfeɪt/ (US) · /fˈeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fate
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. destiny or power

noun · CEFR B2

a power that is believed to control what happens in the future and cannot be changed.

For teachers: the presumed force or divine will that predetermines events. Often used uncountably to refer to the abstract concept of destiny.

- He believed it was fate that they met at the airport that day.
- The ancient Greeks believed that even the gods were subject to the dictates of fate, suggesting a cosmic order beyond divine intervention.

### 2. final outcome

noun · CEFR B2

the final result of a situation, especially when it is bad or involves death.

For teachers: the ultimate outcome or consequence of a person's life or a specific event, often carrying a negative connotation of misfortune or ruin.

- The soldiers waited in the dark to learn their fate.
- The CEO's fate was sealed when the board of directors voted unanimously to reject his restructuring proposal.

### 3. mythological goddesses

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

in old stories, the three goddesses who controlled the lives of humans.

For teachers: the personification of destiny in mythology, typically represented as three goddesses who spin, measure, and cut the thread of life.

- In the legend, the Fates decided how long each hero would live.
- The poet invokes the Fates to illustrate the fragility of human existence against the backdrop of eternal time.

Usage: Usually capitalized as 'the Fates'.

### 4. to predetermine

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary · Formal

to be certain to happen or to be intended by a higher power.

For teachers: to predetermine or foreordain a specific outcome. Almost exclusively used in the passive voice as 'be fated to'.

- The two lovers were fated to be apart despite their efforts.
- The expedition seemed fated to fail from the outset, plagued by logistical errors and unseasonably harsh weather conditions.

Usage: Commonly followed by an infinitive, as in 'fated to fail'.

## Examples

- She believes it was fate that they met.
- The explorers met a tragic fate when their ship became trapped in the thick arctic ice.
- While the protagonist struggles to assert his free will, the narrative structure suggests that his ultimate downfall is a matter of fate rather than a result of his specific choices.

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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.