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
There are options to export via the Baltic states and through Georgia by land into the Middle East and Central Asia, but this can only cover a small portion of typical flows, Fayaud said. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026 Forecasters issued a hurricane warning and a storm surge warning for portions of the northern gulf coast. — Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
Desserts such as the Jamaican rum cake with coconut ice cream are portioned for sharing. — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026 And this is where the genius kicks in—instead of being one giant space where things get stuffed on top of one another and nothing’s accessible, it’s portioned into customizable shelves. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portion
Noun
  • Noir, by contrast, brooks no such substitutions, because its conception of authenticity cannot allow for alternative destinies.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But antifascism remained a vital part of Americans’ self-conception, as if entering the war and winning it had always been America’s destiny.
    — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Video aired by local news outlets showed a Catholic cathedral collapsing and part of a hotel’s facade falling onto a car in the city of Penonomé, in the central province of Coclé.
    — Juan Zamorano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Cybersecurity specialist Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor) decides to turn whistleblower upon discovering that the US government has been suppressing evidence of extra-terrrestrial life, as part of a cover-up that goes back decades.
    — Tom Bailey, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Related Stories To qualify, the Filipino side must own at least 20% of the project and hold the largest share among the co-producers.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Globally, senior legal leaders expect the share of work charged by the hour to fall from 72% to 44% over the next two to three years, according to a Deloitte survey.
    — Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Each of the company’s more than 20 brands is distributed in North America, with many earning the top spot in key categories.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • An end is in sight for China's yearslong property market slump, S&P Global Ratings analysts said in a report distributed Thursday.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The fate of Sierra is in the hands of 12 jurors who are tasked with deciding whether Sierra, who pleaded guilty to the murders, should be condemned to death or sentenced to life in prison.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • With the fate of the Protect College Sports Act in limbo in Congress, the NCAA will need to continue litigating lawsuits over player eligibility.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • That album drew Simmons’ bass and Bindeman’s drums to the fore of the mix, letting Harris’ guitar and vocals foam behind the rhythm section’s discrete peaks.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Elephants in the Fog competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival this year, winning the Jury Prize.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Seven in 10 employees say promotions go to those who best deserve them, nearly twice the proportion at a typical European workplace.
    — Ted Kitterman, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • However, only one of us has legally ended the lives of a sizable proportion of them.
    — Dr. Jacob Appel, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In May, a federal appeals court granted Louisiana’s request to reinstate a nationwide requirement that mifepristone be dispensed in person.
    — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The agency has repeatedly reaffirmed the pill’s safety and effectiveness over the years, in addition to easing a number of restrictions on the drug, including dropping a requirement that it be dispensed in person.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Portion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portion. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster