portent

noun

por·​tent ˈpȯr-ˌtent 

1

: something that foreshadows a coming event : omen, sign

2

: prophetic indication or significance

3

: marvel, prodigy

Synonyms of portent

• forerunner
• omen
• precursor
• foreshadowing
• presage
• foreboding
• hint
• prediction
• herald
• augury
• suggestion

Examples of portent in a Sentence

a red sky in the morning can be a portent of a coming storm

a scout was sent to have a look at this teenage pitcher who was supposed to be the latest portent of the baseball world

Recent Examples on the Web

The company’s example was seen by many as a portent of the AI future. —Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026

Rather than receiving traditional care, however, Hylton was unwittingly plunged into a cold experiment in using remote work to offset hospital staffing shortages, which could be a grim portent in an age of AI automation. —Frank Landymore, Futurism, 8 Apr. 2026

Somewhere in there was portent. —Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026

This was only a portent of things to come — the protests were dwarfed by massive protests and riots against the regime in September 2022-2023, then the largest protests in December 2025 to January 2026. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin portentum, from neuter of portentus, past participle of portendere

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

portent

noun

por·​tent ˈpȯ(ə)r-ˌtent 

ˈpō(ə)r-

: a sign or warning of a coming event : omen