What does divine mean?
Divine is most commonly an adjective describing something that relates to God or a god — sacred, holy, or heavenly in nature. Phrases like 'divine intervention,' 'divine law,' and 'divine right of kings' reflect its long association with religion, theology, and authority. In informal use, especially in British English, divine can also mean simply wonderful or exquisite: 'What a divine view!' As a verb, to divine something is to perceive it through intuition or apparent supernatural insight, as when a fortune-teller claims to divine the future. The word derives from the Latin divinus, from deus, meaning 'god,' which also gives us deity, divinity, and divination. Whether describing the sacred, the sublime, or a flash of uncanny intuition, divine carries connotations of something beyond ordinary human reach — making it a rich and versatile word across both everyday and elevated registers.
Of, from, or like God or a god; sacred, holy, or supremely excellent.
"The cathedral's stained glass seemed touched by divine light."
Informally used as an intensifier meaning 'delightful' or 'excellent': 'a divine meal'.
To discover or guess something by intuition, insight, or apparent supernatural means.
"He could always divine when she was hiding something."
Formal and literary in tone.
God or a god, usually in the phrase 'the Divine'; also, archaic or formal term for a theologian.
"Many traditions speak of the Divine as beyond full human comprehension."
The same Latin root gave us 'deity,' 'divinity,' and 'divine' — and for centuries kings claimed a 'divine right' to rule by it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of divine
Divine comes from the Latin divinus, meaning 'of a god' or 'godlike,' itself derived from deus, 'god.' It entered English via Old French in the Middle Ages, initially carrying strictly religious meanings relating to God and sacred things. Its relatives include divinity, deity, deify, and divination — all tracing back to the same Indo-European root associated with gods and the shining sky. The intuitive verb sense ('to guess by insight') developed later, drawing on the ancient idea that knowledge could come through supernatural revelation.
Related word forms
How divine is actually used
The adjective is neutral-to-formal in religious contexts but informal and often playful when used as an intensifier meaning 'wonderful' ('the cake was simply divine'), a usage especially common in British English. The verb 'divine' is relatively formal and literary; in everyday speech people more often say 'guess' or 'intuit.' The noun sense is chiefly found in fixed phrases such as 'the Divine' and in older references to theologians.
Easily confused with divine
'Devine' is not a standard English word — it is a common misspelling of 'divine' (and occasionally a surname).