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

• destine
• doom
• fate
• foredoom
• foreordain
• ordain
• predestine
• preordain

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

Their close examination of mouse brains after learning revealed that an engram’s ability to store memory may be predetermined by how DNA is packaged within neurons. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Clearly, this was not just a story, because the current rumor mill is saying that John Mulaney will be making more Everybody’s in L.A. but will not complete his destiny of hosting the 2025 Oscars, which seemed honestly predetermined. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 July 2024

Looking back, my fall from grace was almost predetermined. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2024

Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Choosing Their Own Career Path Increases Engagement Most organizations have predetermined career paths for employees in alignment with their department’s goals. —Kate Wieczorek, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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