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

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
Gateway officials said preliminary work on the riverbed portion of the tunnel is expected to start within months. Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026 Since Lover, Swift has come and gone with relative ease, doling out generous portions of concerts and documentaries and behind-the-scenes looks and then going away for months at a time. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
My old colleague Peter Holderith tipped this off a few years ago, actually—that automakers should stop trying to cram every feature into one megascreen and portion them out into localized panels that group similar functions together. Adam Ismail, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026 Pre-portioning baskets from the start, setting a one-treat-per-day rule after Easter morning and donating or freezing the excess are the strategies parents are actually using. Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portion
Noun
  • With tricky remaining fixtures, that 38 per cent probability could very easily increase by next week, but Nuno’s side will be keen to keep their destiny in their own hands for as long as possible.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • What are the pros and cons of the ways filmmakers can take their destiny into their own hands?
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Injuries are part of the story.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
  • That’s part of the responsibility of leadership.
    Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • Adjusting for one-time items tied to the transaction that put the former Paramount assets under the control of Skydance, the company reported adjusted earnings per share of 23 cents.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 May 2026
  • For his part, Becerra supports extending existing measures like Propositions 30 and 55, both of which call for much smaller tax increases on a larger share of citizens.
    Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • There are 1,000 total combinations, and they are distributed based on where teams finish in the standings.
    Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 4 May 2026
  • Many of the callers thank him for the Zeta license plates (70,000 were distributed in the past two years).
    Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • The memory of the botched attempt against the Patriots definitely didn't help his cause, either, as the team decided his fate.
    Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Riley sails on, prow forward, fighting to avoid the Imagination’s unceremonious fate, not quitting, not wishing to be retired, but battling time.
    Greg Cote April 28, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Ground teams at Kennedy offloaded the core stage—still lacking its engine section—from the barge on Tuesday and transferred it inside the Vehicle Assembly Building.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
  • Golf advocates are still fighting plans for a surf park proposed for the middle section of the course.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • The roughly 3,280-square-foot home has four bedrooms and four and a half baths, with proportions that feel true to its loft roots.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Prada 2 is tracking to be a hit of record-breaking proportions and reunites Hathaway with Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt.
    Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The musical, featuring a book by David Hornsby and Chris Hoch and a score by the Rescues that dispenses with the movie’s cover-heavy soundtrack, is undeniably overstuffed.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • During the Covid pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration under President Joe Biden temporarily eliminated a requirement for mifepristone to be dispensed only in clinics, medical offices and hospitals.
    Aria Bendix, NBC news, 1 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Portion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portion. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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