doom
doom
Doom (noun) means a terrible fate that seems certain and impossible to avoid, especially death or destruction. Example: “The old sailors spoke of the ship's doom in hushed voices.”
noun
1
A terrible fate that seems certain and impossible to avoid, especially death or destruction.
"The old sailors spoke of the ship's doom in hushed voices."
"A sense of doom hung over the abandoned town."
"The prophecy foretold the doom of the whole kingdom."
verb
1
To condemn someone or something to a certain, usually terrible, fate.
"The failed harvest doomed the village to a hard winter."
"Poor planning doomed the project from the start."
"Her careless words doomed any chance of a peaceful agreement."
How to use doom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA terrible, unavoidable outcome, or to seal something into that fate.
Common pairings
sense of doom
doomed to fail
impending doom
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Word forms
- Plural
- dooms
- Third person singular
- dooms
- Past tense
- doomed
Fill the gap
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The old sailors spoke of the ship's _____ in hushed voices.
Etymology
From Old English dom, meaning "judgment" — the same root survives in the legal sense of "deem" and originally referred to a court's ruling before it narrowed to mean a grim fate.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for doom
See all rhymes for doom →Frequently asked questions
What does “doom” mean?
The word “doom” means a terrible fate that seems certain and impossible to avoid, especially death or destruction. In plain terms, a terrible, unavoidable outcome, or to seal something into that fate.
How do you pronounce “doom”?
“Doom” is pronounced doom (/duːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “doom” in a sentence?
Here is “doom” used in a sentence: “The old sailors spoke of the ship's doom in hushed voices.”
What part of speech is “doom”?
Depending on how it is used, “doom” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “doom” come from?
The word “doom” comes from Old English. From Old English dom, meaning "judgment" — the same root survives in the legal sense of "deem" and originally referred to a court's ruling before it narrowed to mean a grim fate.
Is “doom” a common word?
“Doom” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “doom” have?
“Doom” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a terrible fate that seems certain and impossible to avoid, especially death or destruction.
What is the difference between "doom" and "fate"?
"Fate" is a neutral term for whatever is destined to happen, which could be good or bad. "Doom" specifically refers to a terrible fate that seems certain and impossible to avoid, especially death or destruction, so it always carries a negative meaning.
What is the difference between "doom" and "destiny"?
"Destiny" often implies a meaningful or even positive path someone is meant to follow, while "doom" specifically describes a terrible, seemingly unavoidable fate, especially death or destruction.
Can "doom" be used as a verb as well as a noun?
Yes. As a noun, "doom" refers to a terrible, seemingly unavoidable fate. As a verb, it means to condemn someone or something to that kind of certain, usually terrible, fate, as in "the decision doomed the project."
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