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
For the fastest possible morning, prep individual freezer bags with the fruit and spinach portioned out ahead of time. Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026 These personally portioned chicken pot pies ensure everyone gets the same amount of comfort food. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portion
Noun
  • Comet's date with destiny On Saturday, all eyes were monitoring the comet's progress using the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) C2 and C3 cameras, as well as the Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) on the GOES 19 satellite.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The team doesn’t control its own destiny for spots 5-8 in the conference.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • These are not lazy callbacks, but shared touchstones — part of a pop cultural language the film embedded into our collective consciousness, and that the show both celebrates and lovingly skewers.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, is part of the wing of the American right that embraced Orbán.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Reformation assembled a coalition of brands—including Dôen, Eileen Fisher, Everlane and Zimmermann—to co-fund the study, aiming to generate better primary data on a fiber that represents a small share of global use but plays an outsized role in premium and luxury supply chains.
    Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The former couple share son Charles Patrick Inigo Armstrong-Jones and daughter Lady Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong-Jones.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Best pizzelle makers Top pizzelle makers under $50 The extra-thick baking plates distribute the heat evenly for making four crispy, browned 3-inch pizzelle cookies at a time.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • As of December, the program had distributed more than 77,000 books to Little Rock School District students, focusing on elementary schools requiring greater academic support.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 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
  • Those attendees will have access to the Maize Rage section within the arena.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The victim lived with his mom in the University Heights section of the Bronx, about 3 miles from where he was killed.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 10 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 handwash sink faucet was dispensing pre-mixed water inside the restroom.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado April 10, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Do not dispense into unlabeled trash bags.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Portion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portion. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

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