What is the meaning of the word inevitable

What does the word inevitable mean?

According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word inevitable is an adjective that means unavoidable. Inevitable is five syllables – in-ev-it-a-ble, and the pronunciation of inevitable is ɪnɛvɪtə-bəl. This word is sometimes thought to have a negative connotation but has different nuances depending on context. Something that is inevitable can certainly be a bad thing, but it can also be a good thing. It might be inevitable that a person is in poverty and has to work their way out of it, but it could also be inevitable that someone could be rich for their whole lives because of the family they are born into. Inevitable simply means unavoidable, and therefore can be a positive or a negative.

Many things can be inevitable, like an inevitable course of events, inevitable consequences, an inevitable conclusion, inevitable defeat, the inevitable closing of physical GameStop stores, an unavoidable event, an inevitable lesson learned on a characters’ journey, the inevitable commingling of two reality show crazes, an inevitable question, inevitable comparisons, inevitable rises in interest rates and job losses, the inevitable change of the seasons and their circumstances, inevitable disaster, the inevitable nuances of a natural consequence, a necessary result, the inevitable abortions with the absence of preventive methods of pregnancy, an inevitable punishment, incidental matters, a neutral sense of fate, inevitable destiny, and more.

Many different languages contain translations for the word inevitable. You may notice that some of the translations in the below list look and  sound a lot like the word inevitable. These are called cognates, which are words and phrases that have a similar look, sound, and meaning across languages. These are often formed when two words have the same root or language of origin. This list of translations of the word inevitable is provided by Word Sense.

•  Italian: inevitabile‎
•  Asturian: inevitable‎
•  Greek: αναπόφευκτος‎
•  Urdu: ناگزیر ، اٹل‎
•  Japanese: 不可避‎, 避けられない‎ (sakerarenai)
•  Hungarian: elkerülhetetlen‎
•  Estonian: vältimatu‎
•  Old English: unafeohtendlic‎, unforbugendlic‎
•  Czech: nevyhnutelný‎ (masc.)
•  French: inévitable‎
•  Galician: inevitable‎, inevitábel‎
•  Turkish: kaçınılmaz‎
•  Romanian: inevitabil‎ (masc.) (n), neocolibil‎ (masc.) (n)
•  German: unvermeidlich‎, unabwendbar‎
•  Finnish: väistämätön‎, vääjäämätön‎
•  Slovak: neodvratný‎
•  Portuguese: inevitável‎
•  Bengali: অনিবার্য‎ (ônibarjô)
•  Mandarin: 不可避免‎ (bùkě bìmiǎn), 總會‎, 总会‎ (zǒnghuì), 無可避免‎, 无可避免‎ (wúkě bìmiǎn)
•  Georgian: გარდაუვალი‎, აუცილებელი‎
•  Dutch: onvermijdelijk‎, onafwendbaar‎
•  Russian: неизбе́жный‎, немину́емый‎
•  Persian: حتمی‎ (hatmi), حتمی‌الوقوع‎ (hatmi-ol-voqu’), ناگزیر‎ (nâgozir)
•  Swedish: oundviklig‎, ofrånkomlig‎
•  Polish: nieunikniony‎ (masc.)
•  Catalan: inevitable‎
•  Spanish: inevitable‎
•  Korean: 피할 수 없는‎ (pihal sue opsneun)
•  Occitan: inevitable‎

What is the origin of the word inevitable?

According to Etymonline, the word inevitable has been used since the mid-c15 Late Middle English. This comes from the Latin inevitabilis/Latin inēvītābilis, from the Latin in and Latin evitabilis/ēvītābilis. This comes from the Latin evitare/ēvītāre meaning to avoid, from the Latin ex and Latin vitare/vītāre meaning shun or go out of the way. The suffixes ity, ly, and ness can be added to the end of the word inevitable to form the related word forms inevitability (n., in-ev-i-ta-bil-i-ty) inevitable (adv.) and inevitableness (n.)

What are synonyms and antonyms of inevitable?

There are many different words that a person can use in place of the word inevitable. These are called synonyms. Learning synonyms is a great way to expand your English language vocabulary and avoid repeating yourself in spoken or written English. This list of synonyms of inevitable is provided by Power Thesaurus.

•  determined
•  unstoppable
•  understandable
•  unavoidable
•  inexorable
•  compulsory
•  in the cards
•  destined
•  required
•  irresistible
•  inevasible
•  predestined
•  definite
•  obligatory
•  foreordained
•  imminent
•  unchangeable
•  settled
•  predictable
•  unpreventable
•  eventual
•  automatic
•  essential
•  unsurprising
•  necessary
•  predetermined
•  unescapable
•  fatal
•  fated
•  inevitably
•  imperative
•  certain
•  bound
•  mandatory
•  inevitability
•  irrevocable
•  preordained
•  expected
•  doomed
•  foregone
•  sure
•  ineludible
•  fateful
•  decided
•  inescapable
•  ordained
•  assured
•  impending
•  ineluctable
•  fixed
•   necessarily
•  cannot be avoided
•  natural
•  steady
•  undeniable
•  certainly
•  in store
•  probable
•  prospective
•  prescribed
•  set
•  beyond recall
•  definitely
•  evitable
•  absolute
•  inflexible
•  involuntary
•  uncontrollable
•  potential
•  infallible
•  likely
•  consequential
•  approaching
•  constraining
•  unalterable
•  surely
•  coming
•  be expected
•  binding
•  firm
•  in the stars
•  decreed
•  unremitting
•  anticipated
•  inexpiable
•  down the pike
•  foreseeable
•  changeless
•  unavoidably
•  avoidless
•  compelling
•  future
•  absolutely
•  indispensable
•  forthcoming
•  in the offing
•  guaranteed
•  requisite
•  relentless
•  decided by fate

There are also numerous different words that mean the opposite of the word inevitable. These opposite words are known as antonyms. Learning antonyms is another great way to expand your English language vocabulary in a quick and easy way. This list of antonyms of the word inevitable is also provided by Power Thesaurus. 

•  equivocal
•  optional
•  controllable
•  fitful
•  questionable
•  chancy
•  evitable
•  arbitrary
•  uncertain
•  dubious
•  unreliable
•  bewildering
•  unlikely
•  needless
•  carefully planned
•  avertible
•  capricious
•  avertable
•  unpredictable
•  unclear
•  preventable
•  alternate
•  dodgeable
•  dicey
•  capable of being prevented
•  mutable
•  possible to prevent
•  preventible
•  not bound to happen
•  skittish
•  scattered
•  hairy
•  hesitating
•  possible to sidestep
•  nonobligatory
•  inconstant
•  shilly-shallying
•  not certain to happen
•  not when but if
•  in the balance
•  queer as dick’s hatband
•  skippable
•  impossible
•  highly unlikely
•  possible to avoid
•  possible to run away from
•  possible to evade
•  not inevitable
•  hardly likely
•  open to question
•  shaky
•  iffy
•  hit-or-miss
•  possible to ignore
•  improbable
•  stoppable
•  stray
•  random
•  resistible
•  inconsistent
•  in doubt
•  speculative
•  pending
•  irregular
•  shilly-shally
•  omissible
•  haphazard
•  possible to skip
•  slapdash
•  possible to stop
•  incalculable
•  in limbo
•  nonmandatory
•  risky
•  mercurial
•  doubtful
•  can be avoided
•  fluctuant
•  fleeable
•  elidable
•  desultory
•  aimless
•  escapable
•  fluid
•  undecided
•  evadable
•  ambivalent
•  celestial
•  dodgy
•  fickle
•  erratic
•  unsure
•  fortuitous
•  debatable
•  fluctuating
•  changeable
•  changeful
•  as queer as dick’s hatband
•  avoidable
•  flickery

Overall, the word inevitable means unavoidable. This word is Latin in origin.

Sources:

1. Inevitable | Word Sense
2. Inevitable synonyms – 529 Words and Phrases for Inevitable | Power Thesaurus 
3. Inevitable antonyms – 267 Opposites of Inevitable | Power Thesaurus 
4. inevitable | Origin and meaning of inevitable | Online Etymology Dictionary 

неизбежный, неминуемый, неизменный

прилагательное ↓

Словосочетания

the inevitable changes of the seasons — неизбежная смена времён года  
inevitable consequences — неизбежные последствия  
imminent abortion, inevitable abortion — угрожающий аборт  
inevitable changes of the seasons — постоянная смена времён года  
inevitable conflict — неизбежный конфликт  
to bow to the inevitable — покоряться неизбежному  
inevitable casualty — чистая случайность  
inevitable accident — случай, которого нельзя было избежать  
bow to the inevitable — покоряться неизбежному  
tourist with his inevitable camera — турист со своим неизменным фотоаппаратом  
inevitable abortion — угрожающий аборт; неизбежный аборт; аборт в ходу  

Примеры с переводом

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

Возможные однокоренные слова

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle French inevitable, from Latin inēvītābilis (“unavoidable”), from in- + ēvītābilis (“avoidable”), from ēvītāre (“to avoid”), from ē- (“out”) + vītāre (“to shun”).

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈɛvɪtəbəl/

Adjective[edit]

inevitable (not comparable)

1. Impossible to avoid or prevent.

   We were going so fast that the collision was inevitable.

   • 1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services — Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 99:

     To do the job thoroughly sentiment must be ignored and it seems inevitable that the famous Great Hall and the Doric Arch will have to be sacrificed to progress.

2. Predictable or always happening.

   My outburst met with the inevitable punishment.

   • 2012 May 9, Jonathan Wilson, “Europa League: Radamel Falcao’s Atlético Madrid rout Athletic Bilbao”, in the Guardian‎^[1]:

     Every break seemed dangerous and Falcao clearly had the beating of Amorebieta. Others, being forced to stretch a foot behind them to control Arda Turan’s 34th-minute cross, might simply have lashed a shot on the turn; Falcao, though, twisted back on to his left foot, leaving Amorebieta in a heap, and thumped in an inevitable finish – his 12th goal in 15 European matches this season.

   • 1912, Willa Cather, The Bohemian Girl

     This horse and rider, with their free, rhythmical gallop, were the only moving things to be seen on the face of the flat country. They seemed, in the last sad light of evening, not to be there accidentally, but as an inevitable detail of the landscape.

Usage notes[edit]

Largely synonymous with unavoidable, slightly more formal (borrowed as a unit from Latin, rather than formed in English), and with nuances of a natural consequence that occurs after – “inevitable punishment”, “inevitable result”. By contrast, unavoidable has some nuance of existing circumstances – “I was unavoidably detained.” – without there necessarily being a cause.

Further, unavoidable has nuances of “could not have happened any other way, even if circumstances were different”, while inevitable connotes “given circumstances, this is the necessary result.” Compare “the disaster was inevitable”, meaning “sooner or later the disaster would happen (because they did not prepare)” with “the disaster was unavoidable”, meaning “even if they had prepared, the disaster would have happened”.

Often used with a negative connotation, but may be used with a positive or neutral sense of fate, as in “Given our preparations, our victory was inevitable.” in which case *unavoidable would sound strange, since something like a victory would not generally be seen as something to avoid.

In the same manner, impreventable and inevitable have different nuances. The sense “the disease was inevitable” means “It was natural to suffer the disease”; the sense “the disease was impreventable” means “There were no preventive methods against the disease”.

Thus, «inevitable» indicates «unable to avoid due to natural or necessary matters», «unavoidable» indicates «unable to avoid due to incidental matters», impreventable indicates «unable to avoid due to the absence of preventive methods«.

Synonyms[edit]

• (impossible to avoid): inescapable, unavoidable, impreventable; See also Thesaurus:inevitable
• (naturally impossible to avoid): natural, necessary
• (always happening): certain, necessary

Antonyms[edit]

• (impossible to avoid): evitable, escapable, avoidable, preventable; See also Thesaurus:avoidable
• (always happening): impossible, incidental; See also Thesaurus:circumstantial

Derived terms[edit]

• inevitabilism
• inevitability
• inevitably
• inevitableness

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

inevitable (plural inevitables)

1. Something that is predictable, necessary, or cannot be avoided.

   • 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Romance and Reality. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 98:

     I pass also the jealousies, the quarrels, the disgusts, that make the catholic questions and corn-bills of married life—and only dwell on one particular: some irresistible hat, some adorable cap, some exquisite robe, has rather elongated your milliner’s list of inevitables…

   • 2009 August 22, Murray Whyte, “Seeking successors to the Queen West gallery scene”, in Toronto Star‎^[2]:

     In the migratory patterns of the city’s art scenes, there are two inevitables: First, that neighbourhoods where art makes its home become instantly more attractive; and second, because of it, art won’t be at home for long.

Antonyms[edit]

• evitable
• impossible

References[edit]

• inevitable/unavoidable, WordReference.com

Further reading[edit]

• inevitable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• “inevitable”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• inevitable at OneLook Dictionary Search

Asturian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin inēvītābilis.

Adjective[edit]

inevitable (epicene, plural inevitables)

1. inevitable

[edit]

• evitar

Catalan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

in- +‎ evitable

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /i.nə.viˈta.blə/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /i.nə.biˈta.blə/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /i.ne.viˈta.ble/
• Rhymes: -ablə, -able

Adjective[edit]

inevitable (masculine and feminine plural inevitables)

1. inevitable

Derived terms[edit]

• inevitablement

Galician[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• inevitábel

Etymology[edit]

From Latin inēvītābilis.

Adjective[edit]

inevitable m or f (plural inevitables)

1. inevitable

Antonyms[edit]

• evitable

Derived terms[edit]

• inevitablemente

Middle French[edit]

Adjective[edit]

inevitable m or f (plural inevitables)

1. inevitable; unavoidable

Descendants[edit]

• French: inévitable

Spanish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin inēvītābilis.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /inebiˈtable/ [i.ne.β̞iˈt̪a.β̞le]
• Rhymes: -able
• Syllabification: i‧ne‧vi‧ta‧ble

Adjective[edit]

inevitable (plural inevitables)

1. inevitable, inescapable, unavoidable (unable to be avoided)

   Antonym: evitable

Derived terms[edit]

[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• “inevitable”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014

Last Updated:
7 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences

Asked by: Prof. Lia Padberg

Score: 4.3/5
(69 votes)

If something is inevitable, it will definitely happen, like death or tax season. Inevitable comes from the Latin word inevitabilis, which means unavoidable. If you say something is inevitable, you give the sense that no matter what scheme you come up with to get around it, it’s going to happen sooner or later.

When was the word inevitable invented?

What is the true definition of inevitable?

: incapable of being avoided or evaded an inevitable outcome.

What is the prefix for inevitable?

Inevitability is related to the Latin word evitare, meaning “avoid.” When you add on the prefix in-, meaning “not,” and the noun suffix -ity at the end, you come up with something that has the quality of being unavoidable.

What is a better word than inevitable?

In this page you can discover 55 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for inevitable, like: certain, unavoidable, destined, fatal, evitable, inescapable, inexorable, assured, foreordained, fated and prescribed.

40 related questions found

: incapable of being avoided or evaded an inevitable outcome.

What is the root word of inevitable?

Inevitable comes from the Latin word inevitabilis, which means unavoidable. If you say something is inevitable, you give the sense that no matter what scheme you come up with to get around it, it’s going to happen sooner or later.

What is an example of inevitable?

The definition of inevitable is something that is certain to happen. An example of inevitable is death. Predictable, or always happening. My outburst met with the inevitable punishment.

What in life is inevitable?

There are inevitable things in life. That means they will happen anyway at some point, and we don’t really feel like experiencing them. Acceptance of what can’t be changed and knowing how to make the best of what you got is what you need to live life to the fullest and have peace and contentment.

What are the 3 things in life that are certain?

There’s three things in life that’s certain: Death, taxes, andys be open.

What is inevitable change?

Yes, change is inevitable. It is a fact of life that individuals, organisations and nations alike have no choice but to deal with. Those who are able to acknowledge this fact and cope with change will survive. Those who are able to seek out change and actively embrace it will thrive.

Is this moment inevitable?

This moment is inevitable, it never happened before and it will never happen again!

How can we increase awareness of sadhguru?

Sadhguru looks at how we can use our likes and dislikes to cultivate awareness, so that it seeps into every aspect of our life. Sadhguru: Everyone is making choices, but choices made in unawareness are compulsions. Let us say you get angry right now. It is actually your choice to be angry.

Is Isha Kriya effective?

All the benefits like increased clarity and awareness, reduction in stress, anxiety and anger levels, sense of joy and wellbeing; are really just the fringe benefits of the course.

What is consciousness yoga?

Consciousness, the spiritual aspect of yoga. In yoga, the purpose of mental training is to come to a state of relaxation and concentration where you are able to filter the unnecessary influences from outside and from within, and to achieve a point of focus and balance.

What is consciousness sadguru?

April 19, 2019 · Consciousness is not of the mind, but if consciousness is on, it clears the mind. It forcefully finds its expression through the mind and body, through every cell of your living being. Sadhguru clears up misconceptions on what “consciousness” is, and explains how you can access this dimension.

How do you stay conscious all the time?

10 Ways to Become More Conscious

1. Truth. Truth raises your consciousness.
2. Courage. Courage raises your consciousness.
3. Compassion. Compassion raises your consciousness.
4. Desire. Desire raises your consciousness.
5. Attention. Attention raises your consciousness.
6. Knowledge. Knowledge raises your consciousness.
7. Reason.
8. Conscious people.

What is raising consciousness?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Consciousness raising (also called awareness raising) is a form of activism, popularized by United States feminists in the late 1960s. It often takes the form of a group of people attempting to focus the attention of a wider group on some cause or condition.

What is pure consciousness?

Pure consciousness is our spiritual essence. Being infinite and unbounded, it is also pure joy. Other attributes of consciousness are pure knowledge, infinite silence, per-fect balance, invincibility, simplicity, and bliss. This is our essential nature. Our essential nature is one of pure potentiality.

What is difference between consciousness and awareness?

Scientists differ on the difference between consciousness and self-awareness, but here is one common explanation: Consciousness is awareness of one’s body and one’s environment; self-awareness is recognition of that consciousness—not only understanding that one exists, but further understanding that one is aware of …

What are the four states of consciousness?

Aum as all states of consciousness In verses 3 to 6, the Mandukya Upanishad enumerates four states of consciousness: wakeful, dream, deep sleep and the state of ekatma (being one with Self, the oneness of Self). These four are A + U + M + “without an element” respectively.

What are the six states of consciousness?

Your Baby’s States of Consciousness

State	Description	What Your Baby Does
State 3	Drowsiness	Eyes start to close; may doze
State 4	Quiet Alert	Eyes open wide, face is bright; body is quiet
State 5	Active Alert	Face and body move actively
State 6	Crying	Cries, perhaps screams; body moves in very disorganized ways

Which is the biggest upanishad?

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Brihadaranyaka
Date	pre-Buddhist, ~9th to 6th century BCE
Author(s)	Yajnavalkya
Type	Mukhya Upanishads
Linked Veda	Shukla Yajurveda

Which is oldest Upanishad?

Brhadaranyaka

What are the 11 major Upanishads?

Content

• Īśā (IsUp), Yajurveda.
• Kena (KeUp), Samaveda.
• Kaṭha (KaUp), Yajurveda.
• Praṣna (PrUp), Atharvaveda.
• Muṇḍaka (MuUp), Atharvaveda.
• Māṇḍūkya (MaUp), Atharvaveda.
• Taittirīya (TaiUp), Yajurveda.
• Aitareya, (AiUp), Rigveda.

What are the four Mahavakyas in Upanishads?

The Mahavakyas are: prajñānam brahma – “Prajñāna is Brahman”, or “Brahman is Prajñāna” (Aitareya Upanishad 3.3 of the Rig Veda) ayam ātmā brahma – “This Self (Atman) is Brahman” (Mandukya Upanishad 1.2 of the Atharva Veda)

What is taken from Chandogya upanishad?

The Chandogya Upanishad is notable for its lilting metric structure, its mention of ancient cultural elements such as musical instruments, and embedded philosophical premises that later served as foundation for Vedanta school of Hinduism.