# Fates

/ˈfeɪts/ (US) · /fˈeɪts/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

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

## Definition

the three goddesses in ancient stories who decide everything that happens in a person's life. People often mention them when talking about things that seem meant to be or impossible to change.

For teachers: the three goddesses of destiny in Greek and Roman mythology who control the thread of human life. Often used as a personification of an agency that determines outcomes independently of human will.

## Examples

- The fates decided that the two long-lost friends would meet again.
- In many classical tragedies, the hero struggles against what the fates have already decreed for his future.
- The poet suggests that while we may choose our path, the fates ultimately weave the final pattern of our existence, indifferent to our individual desires or protests.

## Usage notes

- Always used in the plural form and takes a plural verb; typically capitalized when referring specifically to the mythological figures.

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