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

Weinstein’s thuggish joke was just one portent of the edgy, borderline sinister air that permeated the party from the very beginning. —Scott Huver, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025

The slogan could also be seen as a portent of Netflix’s continued dominance of the modern entertainment industry. —Adam B. Vary, Variety, 30 Jan. 2025

The natural threat of the caterpillars has shown up in cultural expressions as a symbolic portent of human mortality, Battisti points out. —Ivan Amato, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025

In the second, her name was positioned next to a woman watching a monkey on a chain from her window, an unwelcome portent for Tanya. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025

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