it was preordained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was preordained" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that an event or outcome was determined in advance, often implying a sense of fate or destiny. Example: "Many believe that their meeting was not a coincidence, but rather, it was preordained."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"It was preordained.

The Guardian - Sport

He had apparently agreed to see me because it was preordained.

The Guardian - Music

When a flowing move by Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole and Kieron Dyer delivered the ball to him in stoppage time, it was preordained that Kramarenko would deny Owen.

The Guardian - Sport

"I was born on 5 June, which is World Environment Day," says Basu. "I thought it was preordained that I'd grow up to take care of mother earth and become an eco warrior.

The Guardian

Both at the time and in odd hours since, watching actors and directors working together, I have wondered just what was the cause of the ever more open hostility between Burton and Ritt, and I have come to the conclusion that it was preordained.

The New Yorker

So when cultural and business leaders gathered a few years back to plan how to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Portuguese colonization of Brazil, it was preordained that they would want to make a bold, sweeping statement about the state of the arts in Brazil.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Almost as if it were preordained, Inter was terribly unlucky.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's destiny, it's preordained — that's an absolute prediction," she said.

The New Yorker

The only reasonable conclusion is that Roberts and Alito saw the writing on the wall: it is preordained that the Court will vote for nationwide marriage equality later this year.

The New Yorker

This payoff is called the value of the game; as in perfect-information games, it is preordained by the players' choices of strategies associated with the saddlepoint, making such games strictly determined.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A show where it is preordained that at the end of the season said bachelor will announce that he is in love with two of them and will need the full two-hour finale to choose his mate?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was preordained" to suggest a sense of destiny or fate, often implying a force beyond human control influenced the outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "it was preordained" in everyday situations where a simpler explanation suffices. Overusing it can sound overly dramatic or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was preordained" functions as a statement expressing that an event or outcome was determined in advance, often suggesting a sense of fate or destiny. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was preordained" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey that an event was predetermined, often by fate or divine intervention. Ludwig AI confirms this, and the phrase appears primarily in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, overuse in casual conversations could sound unnatural. Consider alternatives like "it was destined" or "it was meant to be" for nuanced situations. Remember, context is key when invoking the sense of destiny!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was predestined

A direct synonym replacing "preordained" with "predestined", offering a more formal tone.

it was foreordained

Similar to "preordained" but with a slightly more archaic or religious connotation.

it was destined

Replaces "preordained" with "destined", emphasizing fate but maintaining a similar structure.

it was fated

Similar to "destined" but can carry a more dramatic or literary tone.

it was meant to be

Emphasizes a sense of purpose or intention behind the event, differing slightly in connotation.

fate had it so

Shifts the focus to fate as the active agent, altering the sentence structure.

it was inevitable

Focuses on the unavoidable nature of the event, differing slightly in the implication of a predetermined plan.

it was written in the stars

A more figurative expression suggesting astrological influence or destiny.

it was in the cards

Suggests that the outcome was determined by chance or destiny, using a card game metaphor.

the die was cast

Idiomatic expression indicating that a decision has been made and cannot be changed.

FAQs

What does "it was preordained" mean?

The phrase "it was preordained" means that something was determined or decided in advance, often by a divine power or fate.

What can I say instead of "it was preordained"?

You can use alternatives like "it was destined", "it was meant to be", or "it was inevitable depending on the context.

Is "it was preordained" formal or informal?

The phrase "it was preordained" leans toward a more formal or literary register. While understandable in most contexts, it is best suited for situations where a sense of destiny or fate is appropriate.

How to use "it was preordained" in a sentence?

You can use "it was preordained" to describe an event or outcome that seems predetermined. For example, "Many believe that their meeting was not a coincidence, but rather, "it was preordained"".