portent

noun

por·​tent ˈpȯr-ˌtent 

1

: something that foreshadows a coming event : omen, sign

2

: prophetic indication or significance

3

: marvel, prodigy

Synonyms

• augury
• auspice
• boding
• foreboding
• foreshadowing
• omen
• prefiguring
• presage

Examples of portent in a Sentence

a red sky in the morning can be a portent of a coming storm

a scout was sent to have a look at this teenage pitcher who was supposed to be the latest portent of the baseball world

Recent Examples on the Web

Scenes play out with all the portent of a Catholic Mass. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024

For those who looked, there were signs and portents of core Democratic policies pushed offstage. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024

The film finds the old Hollywood hand of Howard making the film independently and coming into the festival looking for distribution, which adds a little more dramatic portent to the premiere. —Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2024

While in Russia, Imbrie witnessed a peasant shot dead by a guard over a miniscule amount of food—a portent of the Great Famine that would soon claim millions of lives. —Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin portentum, from neuter of portentus, past participle of portendere

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

portent

noun

por·​tent ˈpȯ(ə)r-ˌtent 

ˈpō(ə)r-

: a sign or warning of a coming event : omen