portion 1 of 2

Definition of portionnext

portion

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word portion distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of portion are destiny, doom, fate, and lot. While all these words mean "a predetermined state or end," portion implies the apportioning of good and evil.

remorse was his daily portion

When might destiny be a better fit than portion?

The synonyms destiny and portion are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

In what contexts can doom take the place of portion?

Although the words doom and portion have much in common, doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate.

if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain

When could fate be used to replace portion?

The meanings of fate and portion largely overlap; however, fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome.

the fate of the submarine is unknown

How are the words lot and portion related?

Both lot and portion imply a distribution by fate or destiny, lot suggesting blind chance.

it was her lot to die childless

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 portion
Noun
The details of the settlement haven’t been disclosed and some portions of the lawsuit remain unresolved. Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Dinah Voyles Pulver An earthquake shook portions of north-central Iran near Tehran on Tuesday night. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Verb
My old colleague Peter Holderith tipped this off a few years ago, actually—that automakers should stop trying to cram every feature into one megascreen and portion them out into localized panels that group similar functions together. Adam Ismail, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026 Pre-portioning baskets from the start, setting a one-treat-per-day rule after Easter morning and donating or freezing the excess are the strategies parents are actually using. Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portion
Noun
  • The movies before this one, their destinies were so half-hazard.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 13 May 2026
  • The momentum is with them, even if Milan’s destiny is in their hands.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • Credentials grant people access to player areas and other non-public parts of Roland Garros and the All England Club.
    Ava Wallace, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • Data center projects are likely to migrate to parts of Europe with lower power costs, creating winners and losers across the continent, the experts said.
    April Roach,Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • The former couple share Zahra and daughter Lola Simon, 23.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
  • For example, TikTokers share stacked water recipes that often involve collagen powder, creatine powder, coconut water, homemade fruit juices, and electrolyte packets.
    Julia Landwehr, Health, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • Her husband, Souksavath Noi Keomisy, pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony federal charges of conspiracy to possess the drug ecstasy with the intent to distribute.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2026
  • Half of the settlement amount will be distributed directly to county, city, and township governments, with the rest distributed to the state for drug prevention services.
    CBS News, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • The fate of the MV Hondius has sparked international alarm after three passengers died in an outbreak of the rare virus for which no vaccines or specific treatments exist.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 May 2026
  • By the 1980s, however, many of the area’s mines and factories had closed and the slow withdrawal of the industries that built the place left Wrexham facing the same post-industrial fate that had decimated blue-collar communities all over the world.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • The most touching sections feature John expressing his love for Yoko, and drawing a connection between his love for her and his relationship with Paul, as well as his unresolved feelings about his 1970s activism.
    Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
  • The Patriots broke a 14-14 tie with kills from Hudson McFarlane and the game-winning attack from David Griffin to claim Christian’s first section title in boys volleyball.
    Breven Honda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • But last month, as Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz disrupted exports from other nations, that proportion surged to 18%, Xu said.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
  • The study by loan marketplace LendingTree analyzed data from the Federal Highway Administration to rank each state by its proportion of miles in poor condition — pocked by potholes and uneven pavement, among other hazards.
    Rose Evans May 11, Idaho Statesman, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • In response to an emergency request from drugmakers, the court paused a ruling that the drug must be prescribed and dispensed in person by a doctor.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 14 May 2026
  • Designed to sit inside your body and activate when needed to help fight infections at the source, the strategy could dispense with the need for pills, shots and even diagnostics.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Portion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portion. Accessed 19 May. 2026.

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