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

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
Our margins look more like a software business because of the blending of the hardware and the software portions of our business. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026 Business leaders emphasized that even after the recent Supreme Court decision striking down major portions of the tariffs, the impacts remain. Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
These personally portioned chicken pot pies ensure everyone gets the same amount of comfort food. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026 Shortly before serving, the blocks of compressed spuds are portioned and fried until the edges shatter like glass but the interior remains soft. Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portion
Noun
  • Friction-maxxing, the future, and why AI isn’t destiny.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The Paris Club, an informal forum of representatives from creditor countries largely in the Global North, has steered the destinies of nations in financial peril, restructuring over half a trillion dollars in sovereign debt since its first meeting in 1956.
    Sven van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • As part of a family so entrenched in UCLA tradition, Jaquez has always thought Los Angeles college basketball was on top of the world.
    Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Yang is part of a generation of workers that powered China's growth by digging coal from underground mines in Datong, a city known as China's coal capital in the northern province of Shanxi.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That took share from price as sellers’ top concern, falling from nearly half of agents ranking it first to 39%.
    Diana Olick, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The financial motive was also discredited as George had previously turned down his share of the family inheritance.
    Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The group was equally distributed across the political left and right.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
  • The first wave of Social Security payments for April is scheduled to be distributed this week, following a normal schedule.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • One of the men accused of planning a mass shooting at a Pontiac, Michigan, high school graduation last June learned his fate in court on Tuesday.
    Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The fate of the petrodollar is at an inflection point during the Iran war.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The shutdowns are slated to take place during the night hours in sections of Alameda County, Contra Costa County and Solano County, the state Transportation Department said.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
  • My spacious room in the heritage section had stained cedar headboards with gorgeous grain, a large comfortable sofa and heather grey carpets.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Thinking about this case, one important observation is that the proportion of pepperoni can only change continuously during the rotation—that is, the proportion on the left side must increase steadily from 30 to 70 percent.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026
  • And to say the crew was thrilled may be an understatement of cosmic proportions.
    Tariq Malik, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The device will do the rest by dispensing the dyes in the right proportions in a bowl.
    Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
  • During one recent stop at the ArtPrize event, Zelenak said more than 3,000 acts of kindness were dispensed before the machine ran out.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Portion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portion. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

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