omen
Americannoun
-
omens
plural
-
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
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a phenomenon or occurrence regarded as a sign of future happiness or disaster
-
prophetic significance
verb
Synonym Usage
See sign.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of omen
First recorded in 1575–85, omen is from the Latin word ōmen
Explanation
An omen is an event or happening that you take as sign of something to come. It’s believed to be a bad omen if a black cat crosses your path or if it rains on your wedding day. Omens generally get a bad rap — that's probably because a lot of them predict bad stuff, at least according to superstition. But the interpretation of omens really depends on the country and culture. What's considered an ominous sign in one place might mean a lifetime of good luck somewhere else. Oscar Wilde once wrote that, “There is no such thing as an omen. Destiny does not send us heralds. She is too wise or too cruel for that.”
Vocabulary lists containing omen
Friday the 13th
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The Alchemist
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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.
See Examples For:
It was a good omen, too, since the Galaxy haven’t lost when they’ve scored first or when they’ve led at halftime.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
The appearance in the sky of Halley's Comet, which is only visible from Earth roughly every 75 years, is regarded as a bad omen following Harold's alleged betrayal.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Against the bullish backdrop, the IPO could turn out to be fortuitous, or an omen.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
The IPO’s strong performance is a good omen for some of the larger AI companies considering offerings later.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
Thus Francis’ gift to me of a second copy was a good omen.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
There are bad omens for future tax policy, too.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
An omen among omens: Mid-dog-walk that day, I spot a onesie that reads “Milk Drunk” and shudder at the impulse to recruit our newborns into low-key bacchanalia.
From Slate ● May 10, 2026
But if you believe in omens, this might not be a good one for the Gunners...
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2025
The people of r/Superstonk are dogmatic, unforgiving of alternative views, indulgent of auguries and omens, simultaneously convinced of their righteousness yet constantly fretting about their opponents’ vast and mysterious powers to undermine them.
From Slate ● Oct. 10, 2024
Only in that way would he be able to read the omens.
From "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
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.
