divine

1 of 3

adjective

di·​vine də-ˈvīn 

diviner; divinest

1

religion

a

: of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God (see god entry 1 sense 1) or a god (see god entry 1 sense 2)

divine inspiration

divine love

praying for divine intervention

b

: being a deity

the divine Savior

a divine ruler

c

: directed to a deity

divine worship

2

a

: supremely good : superb

The meal was just divine.

b

: heavenly, godlike

divinely adverb

divine

2 of 3

noun

1

religion : clergyman

a Puritan divine

2

religion : theologian

divine

3 of 3

verb

divined; divining

transitive verb

1

: to discover by intuition or insight : infer

divine the truth

2

: to discover or locate (something, such as underground water or minerals) usually by means of a divining rod

intransitive verb

1

: to seek to predict future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers : to practice divination : prophesy

2

: to perceive intuitively

Synonyms

Adjective

• A-OK
• A1
• awesome
• bang-up
• banner
• beautiful
• blue-chip
• blue-ribbon
• boffo
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• boss [slang]
• brag
• brave
• bully
• bumper
• capital
• choice
• classic
• cool [slang]
• corking
• crackerjack
• cracking
• dandy
• dope [slang]
• down [slang]
• dynamite
• excellent
• fab
• fabulous
• famous
• fantabulous [slang]
• fantastic
• fine
• first-class
• first-rate
• first-string
• five-star
• four-star
• frontline
• gangbusters
• gangbuster
• gilt-edged
• gilt-edge
• gone [slang]
• grand
• great
• groovy
• heavenly
• high-class
• hot
• hype [slang]
• immense
• jim-dandy
• keen
• lovely
• marvelous
• marvellous
• mean
• neat
• nifty
• noble
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• out-of-sight [slang]
• par excellence
• peachy
• peachy keen
• phat [slang]
• prime
• primo [slang]
• prize
• prizewinning
• quality
• radical [slang]
• righteous [slang]
• sensational
• slick
• splendid
• stellar
• sterling
• superb
• superior
• superlative
• supernal
• swell
• terrific
• tip-top
• top
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• top-shelf
• topflight
• topping [chiefly British]
• unsurpassed
• wizard [chiefly British]
• wonderful

Noun

• clergyperson
• cleric
• clerical
• clerk
• deacon
• dominie
• ecclesiastic
• minister
• preacher
• priest
• reverend

Verb

• anticipate
• forefeel
• foreknow
• foresee
• prevision

Choose the Right Synonym for divine

foresee, foreknow, divine, anticipate mean to know beforehand.

foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.

economists should have foreseen the recession

foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment.

was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war

anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.

the waiter anticipated our every need

Examples of divine in a Sentence

Adjective

They prayed for divine intervention.

how about a piece of the most divine apple pie I've ever tasted!

Noun

the great influence exerted by the Puritan divines in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Verb

divine the answer to a question

it was easy to divine his intention of asking his girlfriend to marry him

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Evangelical leaders celebrated Trump’s victory as a fulfillment of God’s divine will. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

Traders are buzzing about the possibilities, constantly checking the latest polls and moves in election betting markets to divine who’s ahead, Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Kamala Harris, and what that means for their positions. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2024

Noun

Paintings such as Dark Pasture Encounter: Conduit (2023) and Night Prey, or (The Prey of the Terrible shall be Delivered), 2024, evoke the ecstatic, almost erotic experience of the divine. —Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2024

The resulting music is impressively precise and introspective, grappling with earthly concerns with poise, while also channeling the unexpected, iridescent revelations and comforts of the divine. —Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024

Verb

The duo studied the career paths of every S&P 500 CEO this century to divine the skills required to navigate shifts in the business landscape. —Diane Brady, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2024

Goth Shakira is an Aquarian digital conjurer and Queen of Pentacles divining in Los Angeles. —Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English divin, from Anglo-French, from Latin divinus, from divus god — more at deity

Noun

Middle English, from Medieval Latin divinus, from Latin, soothsayer, from divinus, adjective — see divine entry 1

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French deviner, from Latin divinare, from divinus, noun — see divine entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing divine

• divine inspiration
• divine retribution
• divine right
• divine service

Kids Definition

divine

1 of 3 adjective

di·​vine də-ˈvīn 

1

a

: of, relating to, or coming directly from God or a god

b

: being God or a god

the divine Savior

c

: directed to God or a god

divine worship

2

a

: extremely good : superb

b

: having godlike qualities

divinely adverb

divine

2 of 3 noun

: a member of the clergy

divine

3 of 3 verb

divined; divining

1

: to discover or understand something without reasoning

2

: to practice divination : prophesy

diviner noun