omen

[ oh-muhn ]

/ ˈoʊ mən /

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See synonyms for: omen / omened / omening / omens on Thesaurus.com

noun

anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good or evil event or circumstance in the future; portent.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR omen

1 augury, foreboding.

See synonyms for omen on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of omen

First recorded in 1575–85, omen is from the Latin word ōmen

synonym study for omen

1. See sign.

OTHER WORDS FROM omen

un·o·mened, adjective

Words nearby omen

omega meson, omega minus, omega-minus particle, omelet, omelette, omen, omentum, omeprazole, omer, omertà, OMG

How to use omen in a sentence

The liquid, it is believed, takes away with it all bad omens and welcomes the next 365 days “clean” of all evil.
Locked up in the Land of Liberty: Part III|Yariel Valdés González|July 21, 2021|Washington Blade
There was even a rainbow-y halo around that big moon, another lucky omen if you’re hungry for such things.
I Found a Rainbow At the End of My Hunt For a Vaccine Appointment|Susanna Schrobsdorff|March 28, 2021|Time
Those 43 goals account for just 57 percent of Boston’s total goals scored, a bad omen considering that just one of the past 13 Stanley Cup champions45 scored under 60 percent of their regular-season goals while playing 5-on-5.
Why Can’t The Bruins Score?|Terrence Doyle|March 23, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
That seems like a bad omen for Newsom — until you consider the special circumstances of this recall effort and the political evolution of California.
California’s Gavin Newsom Will Likely Face A Recall Election — But He’ll Probably Survive It|Geoffrey Skelley (geoffrey.skelley@abc.com)|February 10, 2021|FiveThirtyEight

When a lifetime nomination for the Supreme Court becomes the source of spreading a deadly virus, it should be taken as an omen.
Cure for a sickening appointment|Hans Johnson|October 30, 2020|Washington Blade
Ancient Romans exchanged gifts of figs and honey and would make sure to work part of the day as a good omen for the coming year.
New Year’s Eve, Babylon Style|Candida Moss|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At times, it seemed Leonard was awaiting a portent or an omen.
The Stacks: How Leonard Chess Helped Make Muddy Waters|Alex Belth|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Japan Times on March 6, 2010, reported that in folklore the fish comes to the beach as an omen of an earthquake.
Fishy Mystery: Are Beached Oarfish Trying to Tell Us Something?|Kevin Bailey|October 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The color has also been used to forebode an omen or a threat.
On St. Patrick’s Day, Beware Those Sly Green Eyes|Laura Dimon|March 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Some view is as an omen of dread, of blood, of war, or of victory.
‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2 for Dummies|Jace Lacob|March 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Here I am engaged, miss, or as good, to Mr. Capt; and I know what this omen means.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Sloth in women is cured either by vanity or love; though, in vivacious women, it is an omen of love.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre|Jean de La Bruyre
Pelican, bird of ill omen, go to thy hole and hide thy sorry face.'
Frdric Mistral|Charles Alfred Downer
Yes, for you have interpreted the omen with which you were favoured, in a very different way from what you should have done.
The Border Rifles|Gustave Aimard
For the sake of the omen she put on before going to sleep the tunica rcta, or rgilla, woven in one piece and falling to the feet.
The Private Life of the Romans|Harold Whetstone Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for omen

omen

/ (ˈəʊmən) /

noun

a phenomenon or occurrence regarded as a sign of future happiness or disaster

prophetic significance

verb

(tr) to portend

Word Origin for omen

C16: from Latin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

omen

OTHER WORDS FOR omen

Origin of omen

synonym study for omen

OTHER WORDS FROM omen

Words nearby omen

Words related to omen

How to use omen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for omen

Word Origin for omen