1
as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
a red sky in the morning can be a portent of a coming storm
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2
as in miracle
something extraordinary or surprising
a scout was sent to have a look at this teenage pitcher who was supposed to be the latest portent of the baseball world
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Recent Examples of portent
That seemed a portent of more to come as the June primary inches ever closer.
—
Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
That seemed a portent of more to come as the June primary inches ever closer.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
By the end of 1857, no one knew the crack-up of the Union was coming in three years, or that the nation would be in a civil war in four, but the portents were bleak.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
If that is the case, the Ring Nebula could be a portent of what awaits Earth in around 5 billion years when the sun runs out of fuel for nuclear fusion and puffs out to become a red giant.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portent
Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
That seemed a portent of more to come as the June primary inches ever closer.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
By the end of 1857, no one knew the crack-up of the Union was coming in three years, or that the nation would be in a civil war in four, but the portents were bleak.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
If that is the case, the Ring Nebula could be a portent of what awaits Earth in around 5 billion years when the sun runs out of fuel for nuclear fusion and puffs out to become a red giant.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent
Noun
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Williams had managed traditional Tex-Mex restaurants that were the forerunner of today’s Mercado Juarez Cafes.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The camp is a program of the Woodcraft Rangers, founded by author and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton, whose pioneering Woodcraft Rangers program was a forerunner to groups such as the Boy Scouts.—
Jessie Dax-Setkus,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Consider the chain of contingencies that had to align, and the child’s existence can feel like a miracle.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander combined to score 15 points in the last 73 seconds of this MVP referendum, which ended with a Denver miracle wiped out.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps someday the sound of horseshoes to pavement will serve as some kind of omen to the city’s future residents.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Heck, the decidedly un-fun Rangers were 8-2 to start last year, despite scoring just 33 runs in those first 10 games, which was definitely an omen of things to come.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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What began as a grungy early 2000s desert fest has since evolved into a high-end global cultural phenomenon.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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While the initial move into smartphones posed a risk to Apple's device margins, the gamble paid off through what would become a massive industry-altering phenomenon.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Eventually, a banner signifying the first NCAA women’s basketball title will be raised to the ceiling in Pauley Pavilion, where currently the only women’s basketball title banner is from the school’s 1978 AIAW championship, the precursor to the NCAA.—
Beth Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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Iran also spied on Iraqi positions with rudimentary precursors to drones, an early use of one of the regime’s most effective weapons in its attempt to blockade the strait.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These tasty wonders will make dish duty a breeze.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
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A little perspective can often do wonders for a mental adjustment.—
Chi Varnado,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Videos using the format typically present a normal or relatable situation, followed by the implication that something will go wrong — mirroring the foreshadowing associated with the film scene.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
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Think of it as the internet’s version of dramatic foreshadowing.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Built between 70 and 80 CE, the Roman Colosseum remains one of the engineering marvels of the world.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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They were also treated to a celestial marvel, witnessing a total solar eclipse from beyond the moon.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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