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
On Sunday, a severe thunderstorm swept through the Kansas City area, leaving thousands of residents without power, ripping the roof off of one building, and canceling a portion of the annual SantaCaliGon Days festival in Independence. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026 Of the $2,939 cost of moving a container from the Pacific Ocean through to Chicago, Gilbertson’s portion for moving the containers through the ports was just $13 apiece, according to Oliver Wyman. John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
Bring to room temperature before portioning and coating in cinnamon-sugar. Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026 For smaller cookies that are still impressive, use a 1/3-cup measure to portion the dough for 15 or 16 cookies. Jasmine Thompson, Midwest Living, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portion
Noun
  • People looking out for themselves have compromised the fates of those who have less control over their destinies.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Its transition from a centaur into a comet is thought to have resulted from 450P having a date with destiny.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Michael Busch’s one-out walk brought the tying run to the plate in Alex Bregman, who barreled a ball to the deepest part of the park for a 383-foot flyout.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Toney dominates early Toney is part of the reason for Mensah’s excellent start to the season.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The backfield lead is still likely Tony Pollard, but the Titans also left the door open for a significant Spears share.
    Jake Ciely, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Homeowners consistently tend to skip this step, the expert shares.
    Olivia LaBorde, AJC.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Engineers can connect the sensor with other systems and distribute threat information across a wider force.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The four-episode series brought 16 content creators together at a luxury ranch in Canada to compete in a series of challenges for a chance to win a share of $250,000, with the prize money distributed throughout the four days of the competition.
    Tanya Fedak, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Many of the leaders my PR agency works with are accustomed to SEO being the most powerful determinant of their online fate.
    Michelle Mekky, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • For Lubonja, the fate of the resort is a test of how far his country had come.
    Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Sandra Lim, The Curious Thing While there is an undercurrent of a breakup throughout this collection, particularly in the third section, what drives this book is a reorientation of the self in the world.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Though China remains by far the biggest investor in African mining, countries across the continent are looking to reduce their reliance on Beijing while expanding their control over more valuable sections of the supply chain.
    Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • For spring, PatBo featured an abundance of textures, mixing fringe that is always present in her collection with different proportions and colors.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • As well as impacting the cost of personal loans and mortgages, the uptick in interest rate expectations is a growing problem for the British government as the servicing of its debt accounts for a higher proportion of its spending.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Prescribing, dispensing and enabling the sale of retatrutide — which is still in clinical trials — violate those standards.
    Daniel Gilbert, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The clip opens onto what looks to be the tribute parade in a stadium filled with purple and yellow smoke dispensed by drone-like airships.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Portion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portion. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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