predetermine
predetermine — verb
- predeterminepresent simple I / you / we / they
- predetermineshe / she / it
- predeterminedpast simple
- predetermining-ing form
1. to decide in advance how something will unfold or what form it will take. The ou
to decide in advance how something will unfold or what form it will take. The outcome is fixed and not left to chance.
Adina's flight path was predetermined by air traffic control hours earlier.
passive: be predetermined by [authority]
The St Andrews scholarship board had predetermined the shortlist of five candidates before reading a single application.
Loyal fans insisted the televised baking contest's winner had been predetermined, though every dish was scored blind by the judges.
Hari felt uneasy knowing the meeting's outcome had been predetermined without his input.
At the Lakeside Credit Union, a screening algorithm predetermined which two hundred loan applications would reach a human reviewer.
- prearrange
more deliberate; often used for logistics like meetings, seating, or schedules
- fix
informal; suggests unfair manipulation when used of contests or elections
- foreordain
religious or literary; implies a divine plan, not human choice
- leave open
deliberately not decide, letting circumstances dictate the outcome
文法句型
predetermine + noun
be predetermined by + agent
用法筆記
Frequently passive when the person or system doing the deciding is unknown, unimportant, or mentioned in a by-phrase.
2. to shape a person's thinking or response ahead of time through background factor
to shape a person's thinking or response ahead of time through background factors they may not notice. Their reaction then leans in a particular direction.
Growing up in a remote village had predetermined Minh's outlook on city life.
predetermine + someone's outlook
Years of military training predetermined how Joaquín reacted to the sudden noise.
The city council's housing survey used leading questions that seemed designed to predetermine support for the riverside development.
Noor argued that her early education had not predetermined her political beliefs.
A twin study in Behavioural Genetics examined whether DNA can predetermine a person's liking for fast-tempo music over slow ballads.
- predispose
medical or psychological register; often about susceptibility to illness or behaviour
- bias
focuses on unfair leaning; can be deliberate or unconscious
- colour
metaphorical; suggests subtly distorting judgment or perception
文法句型
predetermine + someone's + view/opinion/response
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (DECIDE IN ADVANCE): sense 2 is about subtle influence and bias rather than a direct decision. The subject is often an experience, upbringing, or unconscious factor rather than a person or institution.