as in predicts
formal + literary
to be a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is going to happen
The distant thunder portended a storm. If you're superstitious, a black cat portends trouble.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of portends
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
This dynamic portends a tragic end for Iran.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
In other words, current prices still do not reflect the extent of shortages a prolonged conflict portends.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
The cacophony of drills and construction trucks outside Porte de Clichy Station portends a major public transit expansion, intended to benefit not just the city of Paris but the suburbs around it.
—Marie Patino, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Iran’s stockpiling of missiles portends wars of attrition, like the current one, in which each side tries to wear the other down.
—Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
The county’s silence on this issue portends an ominous outcome for west Pompano, Deerfield Beach and Coconut Creek.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Leonhard hasn’t divulged details, but adding outside linebackers coach Bobby April III portends a 3-4 base.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Time will tell as to what the AI Basic Act truly portends.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Casey Ross, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026
This dynamic portends a tragic end for Iran.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
In other words, current prices still do not reflect the extent of shortages a prolonged conflict portends.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
The cacophony of drills and construction trucks outside Porte de Clichy Station portends a major public transit expansion, intended to benefit not just the city of Paris but the suburbs around it.
—Marie Patino, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Iran’s stockpiling of missiles portends wars of attrition, like the current one, in which each side tries to wear the other down.
—Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
The county’s silence on this issue portends an ominous outcome for west Pompano, Deerfield Beach and Coconut Creek.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Leonhard hasn’t divulged details, but adding outside linebackers coach Bobby April III portends a 3-4 base.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Time will tell as to what the AI Basic Act truly portends.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portends
Verb
-
The World Health Organization predicts one in four adults will have a stroke in their lifetime.—
Berly McCoy,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In the worst case scenario, in which supply disruptions persist into next year, the IMF predicts global growth to fall to around 2%.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Democrats’ next presidential primary season won’t begin in earnest until after November’s midterm elections, but this week’s conference showcased a collection of Democrats already jockeying for position in what promises to be a crowded competition.—
Steve Peoples,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The presidential primary season won't begin in earnest until after November's midterm elections, but this week's conference is showcasing a collection of Democrats already jockeying for position in what promises to be a crowded primary fight.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In addition, state tax revenues have been healthy — which bodes well for even more state education funding for school systems statewide.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Which bodes well for his team, Hilinski said, with district play starting next week.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But a lack of accountability presages failure for California’s big reform.—
Rachel Canter,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
-
An index of 50 is balanced and presages neither economic expansion nor contraction.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
America's oldest brewery calls Pennsylvania home.—
Nikki DeMentri,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The break clock starts when management calls it, that includes the walk across the warehouse floor.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
From the Russian perspective, all of this lines up with Europe’s history and foretells its destiny.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The evidence foretells what’s in store for the future.—
Keiji Horikawa,
The Conversation,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The broader picture augurs well for the Israeli home front.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
And that really augurs the potential for severe and prolonged enduring instability in this region.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Smart glasses capture what's in front of the user, the motion-tracking suit reads their posture in real time, and the AI processes all of that to generate movement instructions tailored to the specific moment.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 13,
New Atlas,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Her Instagram, the Sailing Hookers, reads like a running log of that life.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portends. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
