portend

verb

por·​tend pȯr-ˈtend 

portended; portending; portends

transitive verb

1

: to give an omen or anticipatory sign of

The distant thunder portended a storm.

… natural disasters and other events that might portend the end of history.

—Michael Luo

2

: indicate, signify

Perhaps the present concern with the values of liberal arts education … portends an intellectual anemia …

—Ann Spinney

Did you know?

It may seem like a stretch to say that portend, beloved verb of seers, soothsayers, and meteorologists alike, is related to tendon—the word we use to refer to the dense white fibrous tissue that helps us, well, stretch—but it’s likely true. Portend comes from the Latin verb portendere (“to predict or foretell”), which in turn developed as a combination of the prefix por- (“forward”) and the verb tendere (“to stretch”). Tendere is thought to have led to tendon, among other words. So you might imagine portend as having a literal meaning of “stretching forward to predict.” In any event, the history of the word surely showcases the flexibility of our language.

Examples of portend in a Sentence

The distant thunder portended a storm.

If you're superstitious, a black cat portends trouble.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her envy-inducing Victorian house, wrapped in floral wallpaper and outfitted with plush rugs, still has a warmth to it, but this warmth portends sickness, fever. —Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025

Maliki’s rehabilitation portends naked authoritarianism, further erosion of civil and press rights, and a return of bitter societal divisions. —Nabil Salih, Time, 4 Dec. 2025

Since then, Gabriela has steadily, and with impressive intentionality, built her game into something that could Close thinks could portend a long professional runway. —Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 1 Dec. 2025

What would this injustice portend for our union? —Wayne Chan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin portendere, from por- forward (akin to per through) + tendere to stretch — more at for, thin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for portend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

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Kids Definition

portend

verb

por·​tend pȯr-ˈtend 

pōr-

: to give a sign or warning of beforehand