portend

[pawr-tend, pohr-]

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.

portend

/ pɔːˈtɛnd /

verb

1. to give warning of; predict or foreshadow

2. obsolete,  to indicate or signify; mean

Other Word Forms

• unportended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of portend¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of portend¹

C15: from Latin portendere to indicate, foretell; related to prōtendere to stretch out

Example Sentences

When either, or both, of these signals have triggered five times or more combined within the span of five trading sessions, it has often portended trouble ahead, the SentimenTrader report said.

Read more on MarketWatch

She said the AI giant’s conversion to a new structure doesn’t portend an imminent public offering as the company prioritizes growth and R&D over profitability.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the staggering rate of volunteerism on behalf of Mamdani’s campaign is evidence that the story of his candidacy — and what it could portend for Democrats — reaches far beyond the five boroughs.

Read more on Salon

To be sure, some analysts said that the recent declines don’t necessarily portend a prolonged selloff, and were even welcome after signs of froth in a market that had run up so far, so fast.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The decline is good news for American consumers because cheaper crude portends lower prices for gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and heating oil.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• augur 
• bespeak 
• foretell 
• predict 
• presage