Meaning & use

portent

noun·Advanced

Last updated

A sign or warning that something significant, often ominous, is about to happen.

See it in a sentence

The dark clouds were seen as a portent of the storm to come.

Ancient cultures often read the flight of birds as a portent of the future.

A note on using this word

Usually carries an ominous or foreboding tone, unlike the more neutral word 'sign.'

Words with a similar meaning

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