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REFERENCE

inevitable

adj. · n.
US //ˌɪˈnɛvətəbəɫ// UK //ɪnˈɛvɪtəbəl// in·evitable
  1. 1 predictable (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Humorous

    happening so often that you always expect it.

    predictable or occurring with such regularity that it is expected as a matter of course.

    Example

    After the long meeting, he made his inevitable joke about needing a coffee.

    Example

    The politician gave the inevitable speech about family values, which the press had heard dozens of times before.
  2. 2 an unavoidable event (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a situation or event that you cannot stop from happening.

    an event or circumstance that is unavoidable. Often used with the definite article 'the'.

    Example

    Instead of fighting the changes at work, she finally accepted the inevitable.

    Example

    By delaying the announcement, the board was merely postponing the inevitable rather than solving the underlying financial crisis.
Origin

From Middle French inevitable, from Latin inēvītābilis (“unavoidable”), from in- + ēvītābilis (“avoidable”), from ēvītāre (“to avoid”), from ē- (“out”) + vītāre (“to shun”).

Word family

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