portent

noun

por·​tent ˈpȯr-ˌtent How to pronounce portent (audio)
1
: something that foreshadows a coming event : omen, sign
2
: prophetic indication or significance
3

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 For those who looked, there were signs and portents of core Democratic policies pushed offstage. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024 The film finds the old Hollywood hand of Howard making the film independently and coming into the festival looking for distribution, which adds a little more dramatic portent to the premiere. Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2024 While in Russia, Imbrie witnessed a peasant shot dead by a guard over a miniscule amount of food—a portent of the Great Famine that would soon claim millions of lives. Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024 Even though Goldwater lost in a landslide to Johnson, his RNC convention turned out to be a portent of the emerging temperament and rhetoric that now is a central part of Republican politics. Charles J. Holden / Made By History, TIME, 17 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for portent 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'portent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of portent was in 1562

Dictionary Entries Near portent

Cite this Entry

“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portent. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

portent

noun
por·​tent ˈpȯ(ə)r-ˌtent How to pronounce portent (audio)
ˈpō(ə)r-
: a sign or warning of a coming event : omen

More from Merriam-Webster on portent

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