omen
Americannoun
-
anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good or evil event or circumstance in the future; portent.
- Synonyms:
- foreboding, augury
-
a prognostic.
-
prophetic significance; presage.
a bird of ill omen.
verb (used with object)
-
to be an omen of; portend.
-
to divine, as if from omens.
noun
-
a phenomenon or occurrence regarded as a sign of future happiness or disaster
-
prophetic significance
verb
Related Words
See sign.
Other Word Forms
- unomened adjective
Etymology
Origin of omen
First recorded in 1575–85, omen is from the Latin word ōmen
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Denver will hope some omens are on their side.
From BBC
Keys also won in 2022 on her only other appearance in the South Australia city, and thinks that is a good omen for her Australian Open preparation.
From Barron's
But, in general, history shows that golden crosses are positive omens for investors.
From MarketWatch
Would it be an affirmation of nature’s power of renewal or an omen of irreversible decline?
From Los Angeles Times
The recent strength exhibited by the Dow Jones Transportation Average is not the bullish omen that many analysts believe.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
