What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
predestine
Example
According to some religious beliefs, our lives are predestined by God. [predestined: verb]
Example
It seems like their relationship was predestined to fail from the beginning. [predestined: adjective]
ordain
Example
He was ordained as a priest last year. [ordained: verb]
Example
It was as if fate had ordained that they would meet again after all these years. [ordained: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ordain is more commonly used than predestine in everyday language, especially in secular contexts. Predestine is less common and has a more archaic or religious tone.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between predestine and ordain?
Ordain is generally considered more formal than predestine, which is more commonly associated with religious or archaic language.
