: 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.
For over two centuries, eerie sightings of the Dash have tied it to omens of death and supernatural lore. Leanna Renee Hieber, Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025 The Tower is not always an omen of hardship and struggle. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025 The same held true in Toronto, where the film won the good-omen People’s Choice Award. Joe Reid, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2025 The bad omens came early at this year’s Burning Man — the infamously wild, weeklong celebration of art, music, and unrestrained self-expression held at the end of every summer in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert — portending a particularly extra-ordinary burn. Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025 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 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

omen

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

More from Merriam-Webster on omen

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