Ordain: meaning, definitions and examples

Used primarily in religious contexts when someone is officially made a priest or minister. It can also imply that something has been destined or decreed in a more general sense.

• He was ordained as a priest last Sunday.
• It seemed as if fate had ordained that they should meet.

Primarily used in religious contexts to make something holy or to dedicate it to a sacred purpose. This can also be used metaphorically to describe someone dedicating themselves seriously to a particular role or purpose.

• The bishop will consecrate the new church.
• He consecrated his life to helping others.

Commonly used in professional and formal settings when someone is assigned a position or a role. This has a broad application and is not religious in nature.

• She was appointed as the new CEO.
• The committee will appoint a new chairperson.

Typically used when formally placing someone in an official position, often with a ceremony, but it can also be used for setting up equipment or software.

• She was installed as the university president yesterday.
• I need to install the new software on my computer.

This word is typically used in a religious context, meaning to officially appoint someone to a clerical position, such as a priest or minister. It can also mean to establish something formally by law or decree.

• The bishop will ordain three new priests this Sunday.
• The constitution ordains that all citizens have the right to free speech.

Use this to express that something is meant to happen in the future, often pointing towards fate or a predetermined end. It's often used in a positive or neutral context.

• She was destined to become a great artist.
• These events were destined to bring them closer together.

This term is used mainly in theological discussions to indicate that certain events or people’s fates have been determined in advance by divine will. It's a more formal and archaic term.

• They believe that the hero's rise was foreordained.
• In some faiths, it is thought that each soul's journey is foreordained.

Similar to 'foreordain,' this word is often used in religious or philosophical discussions to imply that all events are willed by a higher power. Predestination is typically used in the context of Calvinism and other religious doctrines.

• The concept of predestine is central to many religious teachings.
• He felt his life was predestined for greatness.