Michael Luo
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
Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 5 Feb. 2026
That could present warning signs to credit rating agencies, portend a just-as-rocky budget cycle for 2027 and — per the mayor’s warnings — lead to layoffs that could hit the Police and Fire departments if fixes don’t come.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Time will tell as to what the AI Basic Act truly portends.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
For West, who is a storm chaser, snow in the South would be a rare and sacred gift, one that the weekend storm was portending to produce throughout the region.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portend
Cite this Entry
“Portend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portend. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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portend
verb
