portion

noun

por·tion | \ ˈpȯr-shən

Definition of portion

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an individual's part or share of something: such as

a : a share received by gift or inheritance

b : dowry

c : enough food especially of one kind to serve one person at one meal

2 : an individual's lot, fate, or fortune : one's share of good and evil

3 : an often limited part of a whole

portion

verb

portioned; portioning\ ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)niŋ

Definition of portion (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to divide into portions : distribute portioned out the food equally

2 : to allot a dowry to : dower

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about portion

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for portion

Noun

part, portion, piece, member, division, section, segment, fragment mean something less than the whole. part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required. they ran only part of the way portion implies an assigned or allotted part. cut the pie into six portions piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole. a puzzle with 500 pieces member suggests one of the functional units composing a body. a structural member division applies to a large or diversified part. the manufacturing division of the company section applies to a relatively small or uniform part. the entertainment section of the newspaper segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage. the retired segment of the population fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off. only a fragment of the play still exists

fate, destiny, lot, portion, doom mean a predetermined state or end. fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome. the fate of the submarine is unknown destiny implies something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end. the country's destiny to be a model of liberty to the world lot and portion imply a distribution by fate or destiny, lot suggesting blind chance it was her lot to die childless , portion implying the apportioning of good and evil. remorse was his daily portion doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate. if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain

Examples of portion in a Sentence

Noun

A portion of the donations will be given to the orphanage. Portions of land were used for farming. A considerable portion of the city was flooded. The restaurant gives large portions. She divided the pie into six equal portions.

Verb

The work was portioned to each member of the staff. portioned out the medical supplies equally

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The German operator of a portion of the Venezuelan state oil company’s tanker fleet is returning 10 vessels because of unpaid fees. — Jennifer Smith, WSJ, "Today’s Logistics Report: Shrinking Japan’s Fleet; Squeezing the Grocers; Highway Dividing Lines," 8 Mar. 2019 Add Bolognese-style sauce on top of spaghetti portions right before serving. — Nazima Qureshi, SELF, "Here's How a Registered Dietitian Shops and Meal Preps on a Budget," 22 Feb. 2019 Additionally, although the measurement of different alcoholic drinks portions varies across the world, for the purpose of accuracy in research, the study defined an alcoholic drink as 10 grams or 12 milliliters of alcohol. — Elly Belle, Teen Vogue, "Alcohol Does Not Have Health Benefits," 24 Aug. 2018 Artistic impression of the Mars Express spacecraft probing the southern hemisphere of Mars,superimposed to a color mosaic of a portion of Planum Australe. — Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, "Underground Lake of Liquid Water Detected on Mars," 25 July 2018 Construction of the first phase of the residential portion would start in September or October BrandsMart USA, TJ Maxx and Hobby Lobby, all were previously announced as tenants. — David Lyons, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Dania Pointe to offer 600 apartments starting at $1,600 a month, as well as bowling, movies," 13 July 2018 Among the most decorated athletes in college football history, Tebow now will have a permanent spot honoring him along the top of the north end-zone portion of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. — Edgar Thompson, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Tim Tebow elected to Gators' Ring of Honor," 12 July 2018 All of our entrees include a side and a salad and the portion sizes are generally pretty big. — Donald Liebenson, chicagotribune.com, "Guide to outdoor dining in Chicago suburbs: Beelow's NorthShore in Highland Park," 11 July 2018 In a later phase, which would not be completed until 2035, Terminal 2 would undergo several changes, including modernization of the older, eastern portion of the terminal. — Lori Weisberg, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Airport releases environmental analysis of $3B plan to redevelop terminals," 10 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Every ingredient is measured, portioned, and packaged, and the step-by-step instructions are easy to follow. — Glamour, "The 11 Best Healthy Food Delivery Services When You Just Can't With Grocery Shopping," 2 Jan. 2019 Every ingredient is measured, portioned, and packaged, and the step-by-step instructions are easy to follow. — Glamour, "The 11 Best Healthy Food Delivery Services When You Just Can't With Grocery Shopping," 2 Jan. 2019 Bingo, bongo—a rice bowl for dinner, and easy to portion out for meals for the week. — Alyse Whitney, Bon Appetit, "These Turkey Meatballs Are the Only Meal Prep I’ll Eat 3 Days in a Row," 11 June 2018 The Allen Institute’s partnerships net them only about forty a year, each of which is portioned for a half-dozen teams. — Jacqueline Detwiler, Popular Mechanics, "The Heroes of Science Who Are Unlocking the Brain," 3 Oct. 2018 The practice of sending fish to China to be breaded, seasoned, portioned or packaged has grown in the past two decades, according to U.S. fishing groups. — Jesse Newman, WSJ, "Fish Caught in America, Processed in China Get Trapped by Trade Dispute," 9 Aug. 2018 However, the sea bass was generously portioned, hot and precisely cooked. — Michael Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, "With market, bakery and cafe, Oakland Chow bites off more than it can chew," 13 Apr. 2018 To portion out each cookie, scoop a heaping tablespoon of cookie dough into your hands. — Tara Duggan, SFChronicle.com, "Recipe: Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies," 20 June 2018 The mini pies are just as ooey-gooey cheesy (with three kinds of cheese!) as the classic, but perfectly portioned as a brunch dish; just add crusty baguettes with butter and a simple, crisp salad to round out the meal. — The Courier-Journal, "A shareable potluck classic goes fun with broccoli and cheese pies for one," 2 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'portion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.