fate
/feɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /feɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfāt/ (ame, mw)
fate — noun
- fatesingular
- fatesplural
1. the ultimate result of events for a person or thing, usually a negative one such
the ultimate result of events for a person or thing, usually a negative one such as defeat, death, or destruction
The fate of the missing hikers remained unknown for three days.
collocation: fate of [people]
Maja's proposal suffered the same fate as earlier plans — complete rejection.
The old theatre met a sad fate when it was turned into a parking lot.
Felipe's early departure sealed the fate of the whole project.
A vote by the committee will decide the fate of the new law.
- choice
fate is something that happens to you; a choice is something you actively decide
文法句型
[possessive] fate
the fate of [someone/something]
用法筆記
Commonly used with possessive determiners (his fate, her fate) or the 'of' structure (the fate of the prisoners). This sense often describes a negative or decisive outcome. For the abstract controlling power, see sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. an invisible force that determines what happens in a person's life, which accord
an invisible force that determines what happens in a person's life, which according to many believers cannot be changed or escaped
Padma believed that fate had brought her and Bao together at the conference.
fate as a personified force that causes events
By a cruel twist of fate, Jin lost his job on the very day he bought a house.
collocation: twist of fate
Beatrix felt that fate was trying to teach her an important lesson.
Whether the rescue team arrives in time is now in the hands of fate.
- destiny
more poetic and often positive in tone; fate can be neutral or negative
- providence
religious term for divine guidance or care; implies a benevolent plan
- karma
Buddhist and Hindu concept of moral cause-and-effect across lives
- free will
the belief that people make their own choices rather than being controlled by fate
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense does not refer to a specific outcome but to the supposed force that controls all outcomes. Common in fixed expressions: 'by a twist of fate', 'fate had other plans', 'fate decided that...'. When capitalized (Fate), it reads as a personified figure in literature.
常見錯誤
fate — verb
- fatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- fates3rd person singular
- fating-ing form
- fatedpast simple
1. to be certain to happen to someone or to be decided in advance by fate — used on
to be certain to happen to someone or to be decided in advance by fate — used only in the passive form to say that something unavoidable will take place
The two old friends were fated to meet again after forty years.
passive: be fated to + infinitive
Zayd seemed fated to spend his whole life working in the same factory.
The ancient prophecy warned that the kingdom was fated to fall before winter.
Lauren felt that she was fated to become a doctor from the day she first helped in a clinic.
- destined
more common and less formal; used in both active-looking and passive patterns
- doomed
strongly negative; suggests unavoidable failure or destruction
- predestined
stronger religious or theological implication; suggests a divine plan
文法句型
be fated + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Almost always used in the passive voice. The active form ('something fates someone') is extremely rare in modern English and sounds archaic. Never write 'He fated it' — always write 'It was fated (to happen)'.