divine
divine — adjective
1. Of or relating to a god or supreme being — used for things that come from a god,
Of or relating to a god or supreme being — used for things that come from a god, resemble one, or are connected with religious worship; for example, divine power, a divine message in scripture, or a figure believed to be a god.
The villagers believed the earthquake was a divine punishment for their actions.
collocation: divine punishment / divine power
Élise lit candles and offered a prayer to the divine spirit that protected her family.
collocation: divine spirit
After the doctors gave up hope, Hugo called his unexpected recovery an act of divine mercy.
collocation: divine mercy
The carved figures on the temple walls were said to represent divine beings.
collocation: divine being
Ancient rulers often claimed a divine right to govern their people.
collocation: divine right
- divine being
- divine power
- divine intervention
- divine will
- divine law
- divine right
- divine spirit
- divine love
- divine mercy
- divine punishment
- holy
More direct association with sacredness; used for places, objects, and texts rather than for beings or powers
- sacred
Emphasises something set apart for religious worship; less often used of a being's nature
- heavenly
Often interchangeable but can also mean 'of the sky'; slightly less formal in religious use
- godlike
Focuses on resemblance to a god rather than connection to one; more literary
Grammar Patterns
divine + noun
be + divine
Usage Note
Frequently used before a noun (attributive position) to describe things associated with religious traditions, such as divine law, divine love, or divine will. Distinguish from sense 2 (WONDERFUL): this sense always carries a religious meaning rather than simply expressing admiration.
Common Mistakes
2. So remarkably good that it gives the kind of pleasure one might associate with t
So remarkably good that it gives the kind of pleasure one might associate with the gods — used for food, weather, music, or anything that brings exceptional enjoyment.
The chocolate cake at Piotr's party was absolutely divine — I ate two slices.
collocation: absolutely divine
Hui said the massage was so divine that she fell asleep on the table.
We sat on the terrace enjoying the divine view of the ocean at sunset.
attributive use: divine + noun
Lucas thought the weather in southern Spain was divine, with warm sunshine every day.
predicative use: be + divine
Anjali's voice sounded divine during the concert, filling the hall with pure sound.
- absolutely divine
- simply divine
- divine food
- divine weather
- divine view
- divine taste
- divine voice
- superb
Of very high quality; less emotional and more formal
- magnificent
Grand or impressive; used for larger-scale experiences and sights
- exquisite
Delicately beautiful or carefully made; often used for food, art, or craftsmanship
- gorgeous
Visually very pleasing; similar formality level but more common for appearance
Grammar Patterns
be + divine
divine + noun
Usage Note
Common in casual conversation and reviews (restaurants, holidays, music). This sense is lighter and less formal than the GODLY sense. It is almost never used in formal writing — prefer 'excellent', 'superb', or 'splendid' in academic or business contexts.
Common Mistakes
divine — verb
1. To discover or understand something through a strong inner feeling or instinct r
To discover or understand something through a strong inner feeling or instinct rather than through clear facts or logical reasoning. For example, a person might divine someone's true intentions from their tone of voice, or divine what will happen next without being told.
Before she said a word, Lakan managed to divine the real reason for her sadness.
divine + noun phrase (the real reason)
The detective tried to divine the truth from the suspect's nervous body language.
From the school board's vague budget report, it was impossible to divine what they actually planned to cut.
divine + wh-clause
Christopher could divine his father's mood simply by watching how he walked into the room.
With years of experience, the old gardener could divine exactly when each plant needed water.
divine + wh-clause (exactly when)
- divine the truth
- divine someone's intentions
- divine the meaning
- divine what/how/who/where
- sense
More common in everyday speech; less formal and less dramatic
- intuit
Almost identical in meaning but slightly more technical or psychological in tone
- discern
Emphasises careful perception rather than instinct; involves more mental effort
- infer
Based on reasoning from evidence rather than pure instinct or feeling
Grammar Patterns
divine + noun phrase
divine + wh-clause
Usage Note
Subject is often a person with special sensitivity, experience, or closeness to the situation. The object is typically something hidden or not yet expressed — a feeling, intention, truth, or future event. Frequently followed by a wh-clause (what, when, where, why). More common in literary and formal contexts than in everyday speech.
Common Mistakes
2. To search for underground water, minerals, or other hidden substances using a sp
To search for underground water, minerals, or other hidden substances using a special rod or stick that is believed to point downwards when it passes over the target — a practice also known as dowsing.
The farmer used a forked hazel branch to try to divine water beneath his field.
transitive: divine + noun phrase (water)
Rafael watched an old man walk slowly across the land and divine for underground springs.
intransitive: divine for [substance]
Some engineers still hire specialists who claim they can divine the location of buried pipes.
transitive: divine + noun phrase (location)
Ilan had never seen anyone divine for water before and found the whole process fascinating.
- divine for water
- divine for minerals
- divine underground springs
- divine the location of
Grammar Patterns
divine + noun phrase (water/minerals)
divine for + noun phrase
Usage Note
This sense is highly specialised and often treated with scepticism — scientific evidence does not support the effectiveness of dowsing. 'Dowse' is actually a much more common term than 'divine' for this activity. The object is typically 'water', 'minerals', or a specific substance. Can be used transitively ('divine water') or intransitively with 'for' ('divine for gold').
divine — noun
1. A person who holds an official position in a religious organisation, such as a p
A person who holds an official position in a religious organisation, such as a priest, minister, or pastor, and leads worship or provides spiritual guidance.
The town's senior divine gave a sermon about forgiveness that moved many listeners to tears.
collocation: senior divine
A learned divine blessed the newly married couple at the altar during the ceremony.
collocation: learned divine
Local divines gathered at the cathedral to discuss the church's role in modern society.
Soraya consulted a well-known divine about the spiritual meaning of the ancient ritual.
- senior divine
- learned divine
- local divine
- distinguished divine
- layperson
A member of a religious community who is not a clergy member
Grammar Patterns
the + divine
a + divine
Usage Note
This is a formal and somewhat old-fashioned term. In modern everyday English, 'priest', 'minister', 'pastor', or 'clergy member' are far more common. 'Divine' as a noun is most often found in historical writing, formal religious contexts, or literary texts. Distinguish from sense 2 (THEOLOGIAN): a divine in this sense leads religious practice, while a theologian studies religion academically.
Common Mistakes
2. A person who studies the nature of God, religious beliefs, sacred texts, and spi
A person who studies the nature of God, religious beliefs, sacred texts, and spiritual matters in a detailed or scholarly way — often writing books, teaching at universities, or debating religious ideas.
The university invited a renowned divine to lecture on second-century Christian writings.
collocation: renowned divine
Walid consulted a distinguished divine to understand the historical context of the ancient religious text.
collocation: distinguished divine
In the seventeenth century, this Dutch divine published a famous defence of religious tolerance.
The conference brought together divines from three different faith traditions to discuss shared values.
- renowned divine
- distinguished divine
- Dutch divine
- Protestant divine
- Anglican divine
- theologian
The standard modern term; preferred in academic and contemporary contexts
- scholar of religion
Broader term that may include comparative religion without personal faith
- doctor of the church
A specific title in Catholic tradition for certain influential theologians
Grammar Patterns
the + divine
a + divine
Usage Note
Like sense 1 (CLERGY), this is a formal, somewhat dated term. 'Theologian' is the standard modern word. This sense differs from sense 1 in that it emphasises academic or scholarly study of religion rather than leading worship or running a congregation. The two senses can overlap — a person may be both a clergyperson and a theologian — but the noun 'divine' in historical use could refer to either role.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- divinitynounC1
- divinelyadverbB2
- divinationnounC2
- divinernounC2
- dowseverbC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/2
All five words describe something of very high quality, but they differ in connotation and typical use. 'Divine' (the WONDERFUL sense) is the most informal and emotional — it suggests personal delight and is common in casual praise of food, weather, or experiences ('The cake was divine!'). 'Superb' is more formal and objective, often used for professional achievements, performance, or craftsmanship ('a superb performance'). 'Exquisite' emphasises delicate beauty or fine detail, especially in art, taste, or craftsmanship ('exquisite jewellery'). 'Gorgeous' focuses on visual appeal and is common in everyday compliments about appearance ('a gorgeous sunset'). 'Splendid' has a grand, slightly old-fashioned feel and suits large-scale impressions ('a splendid palace'). For a restaurant review, you might say 'The service was superb and the dessert was divine' — divine for personal enjoyment, superb for professional evaluation.
Common collocations
Nouns
- divine being
- divine nature
- divine presence
- divine authority
Adverbs
- truly divine
- absolutely divine
- simply divine
Phrases
- act of divine
- by divine right
Etymology
The word 'divine' entered English in the 14th century through French, from Latin 'divinus' meaning 'of or belonging to a god', which itself comes from 'divus' (a god or deity). The adjective sense appeared first in English, followed by the noun (a clergyperson) and then the verb (to sense or discover by intuition, as if gifted by a god). The informal sense meaning 'wonderful' developed later as an exaggerated comparison—a way of saying something is so good it seems heaven-sent.