Doom Meaning
/duːm/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounDestiny, especially terrible.
nounAn undesirable fate; an impending severe occurrence or danger that seems inevitable.
Sentence Examples
Those gloom and doom economists aren't worth their salt.
His doom is sealed.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The prophecy foretold the ____ of the ancient kingdom within a year.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Those gloom and ____ economists aren't worth their salt.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English doom, dom, from Old English dōm (“judgement”), from Proto-West Germanic *dōm, from Proto-Germanic *dōmaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰóh₁mos. Cognates Compare Dutch doem (“condemnation, doom; judgement”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish dom (“judgement”), Faroese and Icelandic dómur (“judgement”), Gothic 𐌳𐍉𐌼𐍃 (dōms, “insight, judgement”); also Ancient Greek θωμός (thōmós, “heap”), Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, and Ukrainian ду́ма (dúma, “thought”), Polish duma (“pride”). Doublet of duma. See also deem.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"This, for the night; by day, the web and loom, / And homely houſhold-taſk, ſhall be her doom,"
— a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The First Book of Homer's Ilias”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 415:
""When should I expect him?" Roy said, resigned to his doom."
— 2007, Billy Lee Brammer, “Fustian Days: Book One: Sonic Goddam Boom”, in Southwest Review, volume 92, number 4, page 495:
"We are legion. The time of our return is coming. Our numbers will darken the sky of every world. You cannot escape your doom."
— 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Virmire:
""After he takes the throne, you will be arrested." / "You lie like your master, Carfax. Your doom is sealed.""
— 2009 December 11, Karen Gormandy, “Robin Hood”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), volume 59, number 8, page 4:
"unlike Vincent, he wasn't quite taken in by the outbreak of hopefulness on all sides. After all, nothing about the tanks or the process had been resolved; an air of doom still hung undisturbed over the project."
— 2004, Arthur Miller, “The Turpentine Still”, in Southwest Review, volume 89, number 4, page 479:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The prophecy foretold the ____ of the ancient kingdom within a year.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Those gloom and ____ economists aren't worth their salt.