portend

American  

[pawr-tend, pohr-] / pɔrˈtɛnd, poʊr- /

verb (used with object)

1. to indicate in advance; to foreshadow or presage, as an omen does.

   The street incident may portend a general uprising.

   Synonyms:

   forebode, betoken, augur, forecast, foretell

2. to signify; mean.

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portend British  

/ pɔːˈtɛnd /

verb

1. to give warning of; predict or foreshadow

2. obsolete to indicate or signify; mean

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Other Word Forms

• unportended adjective

Etymology

Origin of portend

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin portendere “to point out, indicate, portend,” variant of prōtendere “to extend”; pro- ¹, tend ¹

Example Sentences

“The overall weakness in the crypto space is indicative of a softening retail bid, which portends lighter buying forces for U.S. stocks in the short-run, especially the higher beta areas,” Torres said.

From MarketWatch

Among the battles that portends is one over the selection of a new police chief, which previously had been solely within the mayor’s purview.

From Seattle Times

And here is why the lender’s collapse portends bad news for SoftBank, the Japanese tech investor.

From New York Times

The Mariners had been thrilled by what Smyly’s dazzling outing portended for their season.

From Seattle Times

For Roach, the statistics portend trouble for Pacquiao’s future as an elite boxer.

From New York Times

Related Words

• augur
• bespeak
• foretell
• predict
• presage