Fate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈfāt/

Meaning & Definition of Fate

Fate (noun)

  1. the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do, destiny
  2. an inevitable and often adverse outcome, condition, or end
  3. disaster; especially, death

Fate (verb)

  1. destine; also, doom

Fate (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand

    "the belief that it was this country's fate to extend from sea to sea"

    similar: circumstance, destiny, doom, fortune, kismet, lot, portion
    related: accident, casualty (archaic), chance, hap, happenchance, happenstance, hazard, luck, predestination, aftereffect, aftermath, conclusion, consequence, development, effect, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot

  2. a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause

    "the fate of the presidential election hinged on a few thousand votes in a single state"

    similar: aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot, matter of course
    related: ramification, denouement, echo, implication, repercussion, afterclap, afterglow, aftershock, blowback, by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect, spin-off
    opposite: antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason
    near: consideration, determinant, factor, base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus, mother, origin, root, source, spring

  3. the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities

    "he met his fate in a tragic highway accident"

    similar: curtains, death, decease, demise, dissolution, doom, end, exit, expiration, expiry, grave, great divide, passage, passing, quietus, sleep
    related: casualty, fatality, martyrdom, self-destruction, self-murder, self-slaughter, suicide, annihilation, destruction, ending, extermination, ruin, assassination, execution, killing, massacre, slaughter
    opposite: birth, nativity
    near: existence, life, creation, genesis, origination, rise

Fate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to determine the fate of in advance

    "the warning that the lack of an advanced education will fate a person to a lifetime of below-average earnings"

    similar: destine, doom, foredoom, foreordain, ordain, predestine, predetermine, preordain
    related: predestinate, augur, forecast, foretell, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy, preconceive, prejudge, condemn, sentence, bode, forebode, portend, anticipate, divine, foreknow, foresee

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Fate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Fate:

circumstance, destiny, doom, fortune, kismet, lot, portion, aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot, curtains, death, decease, demise, dissolution, end, exit, expiration, expiry, grave, great divide, passage, passing

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Fate

Words with the opposite meaning of Fate:

antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason, birth, nativity

Related Words for Fate

accident, casualty, chance, hap, happenchance, happenstance, hazard, luck, predestination, ramification, denouement, echo, implication, repercussion, afterclap, afterglow, aftershock, blowback, by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect, spin-off, fatality, martyrdom, self-destruction, self-murder, self-slaughter, suicide

Near Antonyms of Fate

consideration, determinant, factor, base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus, mother, origin, root, source, spring, existence, life, creation, genesis, origination, rise

Word Forms of Fate

Inflections: fated, fating

Origin & Etymology of Fate

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin fatum, literally, what has been spoken, from neuter of fatus, past participle of fari to speak ban:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Fate

Words & Phrases Containing Fate

a fate worse than death, cheat fate, meet one's fate, seal someone's fate, tempt fate

Frequently Asked Questions about Fate

What does "Fate" mean?

"Fate" means the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do, destiny. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do, destiny. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Fate"?

Other words for "Fate" include circumstance, destiny, doom, fortune, kismet, lot, portion and aftereffect. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Fate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Fate"?

There are 109 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Fate". Common alternatives include circumstance, destiny, doom, fortune, kismet, lot, portion, aftereffect, aftermath and backwash.

What is the opposite of "Fate"?

Antonyms of "Fate" include antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason, birth and nativity. Near antonyms include consideration, determinant, factor and base.

How do you use "Fate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Fate" in a sentence: "the belief that it was this country's fate to extend from sea to sea"; "the fate of the presidential election hinged on a few thousand votes in a single state"; "he met his fate in a tragic highway accident".

Is "Fate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Fate" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Fate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Fate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Fate"?

"Fate" is pronounced /ˈfāt/.