Synonyms of omen
: an occurrence or phenomenon (see phenomenon sense 1) believed to portend a future event : augury
The dark clouds were considered a bad omen.

Examples of omen in a Sentence

They regarded the win as a good omen for the team. omens of things to come
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And what might be a good omen has been unearthed during the building activity at Sojourner Place at Park. Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2026 Long before scientists understood solar wind or magnetism, people associated auroras with spirits, omens, warriors, or celestial beings. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026 His fear that the Ross miss might prove to be a bad omen was unfounded. Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2026 The release of the beloved birds on Sunday was also seen as a good omen for the Noto region, which is still recovering from the deadly 2024 earthquake. ABC News, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for omen

Word History

Etymology

Latin omin-, omen

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of omen was in 1582

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Omen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omen. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

omen

noun
: a happening believed to be a sign or warning of some future event

More from Merriam-Webster on omen

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster