Synonyms

portend

American

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

verb (used with object)

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
to signify; mean.

portend British

/ pɔːˈtɛnd /

verb

to give warning of; predict or foreshadow
obsolete to indicate or signify; mean

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

unportended

adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

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”; see pro- ¹, tend ¹

Explanation

Portend means to show a sign that something calamitous is about to happen. The teetering, tottering, pile of fine china piled up after the dinner party portends an imminent crash of broken plates and dishes. Portend is a verb warning of omens, or bad signs. Dark clouds rumbling in over a county fair in Kansas portend the thunderstorm and even tornado that is likely to ruin the festivities. Portend is a helpful way for authors to foreshadow dark events ahead in their stories.

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Vocabulary lists containing portend

Grade 11, List 2

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"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass

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Chains

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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.

That doesn’t portend an imminent crash, but it does raise the question how long a rally supported by just a handful of stocks can really last.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

Signs pointed to another U.S. military buildup in the region this week that could portend a fresh round of fighting.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

So what does this portend for the future of American politics?

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026

This does not portend an all-around divestment from America.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

“Tell me what event might portend success in love?”

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023