Cool MateFate
UK /["/feɪt/"]/US /["/feɪt/"]/
Definition
the things, especially bad things, that will happen or have happened to somebody/something
In simple words: What happens to a person or thing in the future.
Examples
- She believed that her fate was sealed the moment she left her hometown.
- Many stories revolve around characters trying to escape their fate.
- He often wondered if fate had a plan for him beyond what he could see.
- The ancient Greeks thought fate was controlled by the three Fates who determined human destiny.
- Their fate was intertwined with the outcome of the battle they fought together.
Usage notes
Use 'fate' when discussing destiny or unavoidable events. It's formal enough for serious topics but can also be used casually. Avoid using in overly casual or light conversations.
Grammar pattern
standalone noun
Memory hint
Sounds like 'fate' — imagine a date with your future beyond your control.
Collocations
- awful
- grim
- horrible
- face
- meet
- suffer
- await somebody/something
- be in store for somebody/something
- lie in store for somebody/something
- leave your fate in somebody’s hands
- place your fate in somebody’s hands
- put your fate in somebody’s hands
- cruel
- kind
- believe in
- tempt
- leave something to
- decide something
- decree something
- intervene
- an accident of fate
- a turn of fate
- a twist of fate
Synonyms
- destiny
- fortune
- lot
- doom
- kismet
Antonyms
- choice
- free will
- determination
Common mistakes
- Confused with 'fate' vs 'destiny' - 'fate' is often considered more fatalistic.
- Used inappropriately in a non-physical sense, such as 'fate of feelings'.
- Omitting articles incorrectly, e.g., 'Fate is inevitable' instead of 'The fate is inevitable.'