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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Example Sentences
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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
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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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To encompass the story, about a miracle from 847, when Pope Leo IV stopped a fire with a blessing, Raphael brings you into the fresco through the unshod feet of a woman in agony and leaves you near the very back, with a tiny and serene Leo IV.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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And yet, even in the depths of loss, Kim came to see the voyage itself as a miracle – proof that survival could lead to something more.—
Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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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Highly advanced experimental setup To observe this phenomenon, the team developed a highly advanced experimental setup at the Technion’s electron microscopy center.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Apr. 2026
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Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, space phenomena, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The rise coincides with a recent crackdown by the Chinese government on the sale of precursors used to make fentanyl.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Mobileye essentially pioneered cameras on cars, creating features such as lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control, precursors to cars driving themselves.—
Chris Anderson,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Lopez wonders if the thieves left and then came back for bus parts later on.—
Lauren Victory,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Channel a beach theme Happily distressed furniture and a blue and white palette do wonders to unify a space and provide a casual atmosphere.—
Rachel Davies,
Architectural Digest,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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His comments contained a bit of foreshadowing.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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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
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 22 Apr. 2026.
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