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Meaning & use

destination

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌdestɪˈneɪʃn/
US/ˌdestɪˈneɪʃn/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    The place where a person or thing is going, or where a journey ends.

    Grammar: Count noun: one destination, many destinations.

    Patterns

    • reach your destination
    • a destination for something
    • en route to a destination

    We reached our destination just before midnight.

    The package's final destination is a small village in Norway.

    Which destination did you choose for your honeymoon?

  2. nouncountable

    A place that attracts many visitors because of what it offers, such as a beach, city, or attraction.

    Grammar: Often comes after an adjective such as 'popular' or 'tourist'.

    Patterns

    • a popular destination for something

    Lisbon has become a popular destination for remote workers.

    The lake is a top destination for hikers.

  3. nouncountablefigurative

    The goal or end point that someone is working toward in life or in a process.

    Grammar: Used figuratively and often contrasted with the journey.

    Patterns

    • destination in life

    For her, the destination was a career in medicine, and the years of study were the road.

    Happiness is not a destination but a way of traveling.

Word forms

pluraldestinations

Common combinations

final destination
Our final destination was a tiny island.
tourist destination
Paris is a famous tourist destination.
reach your destination
You should reach your destination by noon.
holiday destination
They compared several holiday destinations before booking.
popular destination
The coast is a popular destination in summer.
destination wedding
They planned a destination wedding in Mexico.

Synonyms and how they differ

goal
Goal is about an aim you want to achieve and need not be a physical place, unlike destination.
terminus
Terminus is the last stop of a bus or train route, while destination is where a particular traveler is going.
target
Target suggests something aimed at deliberately, while destination just names where you will end up.
end point
End point is neutral and technical, while destination is the more natural word for travel.

Opposites

originstarting pointdeparture point

Word family

destine verb
to set apart for a purpose or fate, usually seen as 'destined'
destined adjective
certain to end up in a particular way or place
destiny noun
the future that seems fixed for someone

Commonly confused: destination or destiny?

destination vs destiny

Destiny is a fated future or the power believed to shape it, while destination is a place you travel to.

Practice

The flight to Rome was delayed, so we didn't reach our ____ until after dark.

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