Skip navigation.

doom - What does it mean?

Definition of 'doom'

English

Noun

  • Destiny, especially terrible.
  • * Dryden
  • Homely household task shall be her doom .
  • *
  • *
  • An ill fate; an impending severe occurrence or danger that seems inevitable.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • A feeling of danger, impending danger, darkness or despair.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • (countable|historical) A law.
  • *
  • (countable|historical) A judgment or decision.
  • * Fairfax
  • And there he learned of things and haps to come, / To give foreknowledge true, and certain doom .
  • *
  • *
  • (countable|historical) A sentence or penalty for illegal behaviour.
  • * J. R. Green
  • The first dooms of London provide especially the recovery of cattle belonging to the citizens.
  • *
  • Death.
  • They met an untimely doom when the mineshaft caved in.
  • * Shakespeare
  • This is the day of doom for Bassianus.
  • *
  • (sometimes capitalized) The Last Judgment; or , an artistic representation of it.
  • Derived terms

    * doom-and-gloomer, gloom-and-doomer * doomer * doomful * doomless * doomlike * doom metal * doomsday * doomsayer * doomster * doomy * entropic doom * foredoom * gloom and doom * predoom

    Antonyms

    * (ill fate) fortune

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To pronounce sentence or judgment on; to condemn.
  • a criminal doomed to death
  • * Dryden
  • Absolves the just, and dooms the guilty souls.
  • To destine; to fix irrevocably the ill fate of.
  • * Macaulay
  • A man of genius doomed to struggle with difficulties.
  • (obsolete) To judge; to estimate or determine as a judge.
  • (Milton)
  • (obsolete) To ordain as a penalty; hence, to mulct or fine.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Have I tongue to doom my brother's death?
  • (archaic|US|New England) To assess a tax upon, by estimate or at discretion.
  • Anagrams

    * mood

    See also

    * doomsday * doomsaying *

    Similar to 'doom'

    deem, dam, dem, dom, dim, dum, dayum, dym, diam