Meaning & use
predetermined
Last updated
Established or decided in advance, before the outcome is known.
See it in a sentence
The judges followed a predetermined set of criteria to score each entry.
Some believe fate is predetermined, while others argue for free will.
A note on using this word
Frequently invoked in debates about free will versus determinism, where "predetermined" implies an outcome fixed before events unfold.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
spontaneousundecided
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