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

Paul’s victory, thanks to the certainty of prophecy, seems predetermined. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 May 2024

Many arguments land at one of two extremes: either there must be an inner director—a self that makes decisions—or free will does not actually exist, because the environment and circumstances predetermine a person’s behavior. —Aliza Sloan, Scientific American, 22 Mar. 2024

Aparicio’s poetic sculptural forms look back half a century to the Post-Minimal art of the 1970s — especially process art, in which predetermined and accidental methods of their making replace personal decisions as the chief driver in creating the form. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024

These conventions were often sleepy affairs, the outcome predetermined. —Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 22 May 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