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

Antisemitism on the rise These trends don’t just portend Israel’s strongest ally eventually turning hostile. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026

This ruling may well portend a new trial for Madigan as well. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

While the shocking lack of snowpack at high elevations and crispy grasses in lower elevations portend a potentially apocalyptic wildfire season, some wildfire experts look at those predictions with an asterisk. —Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026

But its rapid scale up portends major changes in the machinery of American health care, swapping manual processes for ones driven by a multitude of AI products. —Casey Ross, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026

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