Fate: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'fate' when referring to the predetermined course of events that is believed to be beyond a person's control. It often carries a neutral or slightly negative connotation.

• He believed it was his fate to end up alone.
• Meeting her seemed to be fate.

Use 'destiny' when speaking about a future that is considered inevitable or meant to be, often carrying a positive or inspiring connotation.

• She felt her destiny was to become a great artist.
• They were destined to meet and fall in love.

Use 'fortune' when referring to luck or the universe's influence on one's life, particularly in terms of wealth or success. It usually has a positive connotation.

• He made a fortune through his investments.
• Good fortune smiled upon them during their journey.

Use 'karma' to talk about the concept from Eastern philosophies where one's actions determine future experiences. It often carries a moral or ethical implication.

• She believed in karma and tried to do good deeds daily.
• What goes around comes around, that's karma.

Use 'lot' to refer to the situation in life that someone is fated to experience. It usually carries a neutral or slightly resigned connotation.

• She accepted her lot in life with grace.
• His lot was to work hard and provide for his family.

Used in general situations to describe the inevitable events or outcomes in life, often with a sense of mystery or impersonal force.

• It was fate that brought them together.
• She believed it was her fate to become a doctor.

Used to describe something that has been decided or established in advance, often by a set of rules or a planning process.

• The outcome of the game was not predetermined.
• Her career path seemed to be predetermined from a young age.

Used in theological or philosophical discussions to suggest that all events have been determined in advance by a higher power, often with a sense of inevitability.

• Many believe that their lives are predestined by some divine plan.
• The concept of predestine is central to some religious beliefs.

Carries a negative connotation and is usually used to describe a terrible or catastrophic final outcome that is unavoidable.

• The decision sealed the company's doom.
• He felt a sense of doom as the storm approached.

Typically used in formal or religious contexts to denote something that has been decreed or commanded by a higher power.

• The king ordained that the festival would take place annually.
• It was ordained by the gods that they would meet again.