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
Tony Schick, ProPublica, 3 Oct. 2025
Third grade reading scores are raised as the bellwether in the state's reading crisis, because the ability to read by third grade can often portend a student's success in school and after, research claims.
—Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025
The season ends on a cliffhanger, a choice that’s both frustrating but at least portends a seemingly inevitable second installment that can elaborate on what’s initially left bare bones.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
His past failures won’t necessarily portend future ones, particularly given his work this past year.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portend
Cite this Entry
“Portend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portend. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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portend
verb
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