predetermine

verb

pre·​de·​ter·​mine ˌprē-di-ˈtər-mən 

predetermined; predetermining; predetermines

transitive verb

1

a

: foreordain, predestine

b

: to determine beforehand

2

: to impose a direction or tendency on beforehand

Synonyms of predetermine

• destine
• ordain
• doom

Examples of predetermine in a Sentence

The sex of the child is predetermined when the egg is fertilized.

religious sects that believe that an individual's salvation has been predetermined by God

Recent Examples on the Web

While local leaders attempted to assure the public that result of the study wouldn’t be predetermined, longtime Land Park resident Luree Stetson wasn’t reassured. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026

The Cowboys were predetermined to give up a home game in 2026 for an international destination, although the possibility of the team traveling to Melbourne, Australia, was on the table before the league selected the San Francisco 49ers to play the Los Angeles Rams Down Under. —Nick Harris april 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026

The contracts for draft picks are predetermined by a formula typically tied to the NFL salary cap. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 23 Apr. 2026

And while political observers, including Kiros herself, say the assembly process isn’t actually representative of who will vote in the June primary, the win still marked a surprising development in a race that many considered to be predetermined. —Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin praedeterminare, from Latin prae- + determinare to determine

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for predetermine

• redetermine
• birman
• burman
• ermine
• firman
• german
• kirman
• sermon
• spermine
• termen
• termine
• vermin

Kids Definition

predetermine

verb

pre·​de·​ter·​mine ˌprēd-i-ˈtər-mən 

1

: predestine

2

: to decide or settle beforehand

meet at a predetermined place

predetermination

-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən

noun