1
as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
a red sky in the morning can be a portent of a coming storm
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2
as in miracle
something extraordinary or surprising
a scout was sent to have a look at this teenage pitcher who was supposed to be the latest portent of the baseball world
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portent
As the two settle into their new house, Michael Shanks, the film’s Australian writer-director, pulls an anything-goes series of shocking portents.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
The Dead Zone maintains key big-picture threads from the book and movie — the malevolent rising-star politician, the apocalyptic portent — while taking advantage of its format, succeeding as both a procedural and a long-term story.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Jellyfish scrape along the sea floor like spindly mushroom clouds of portent, stinging Sofia who masochistically (and in a way that carries over to her actual human relationships) keeps going back for another dip.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Feb. 2025
The natural threat of the caterpillars has shown up in cultural expressions as a symbolic portent of human mortality, Battisti points out.
—Ivan Amato, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portent
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
The Dead Zone maintains key big-picture threads from the book and movie — the malevolent rising-star politician, the apocalyptic portent — while taking advantage of its format, succeeding as both a procedural and a long-term story.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Jellyfish scrape along the sea floor like spindly mushroom clouds of portent, stinging Sofia who masochistically (and in a way that carries over to her actual human relationships) keeps going back for another dip.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Feb. 2025
The natural threat of the caterpillars has shown up in cultural expressions as a symbolic portent of human mortality, Battisti points out.
—Ivan Amato, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent
Noun
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Military training was also a non-starter, since the U.S. Army Air Service (a forerunner to the Air Force) did not accept women.—
Victor Luckerson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 May 2025
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It has been said that Nomad was the forerunner of all modern station wagons.—
David Krumboltz,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The heroic game five effort from the Celtics felt like the start of a miracle.—
Tom Rende,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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To top that, 2001 Miami would’ve needed to obliterate everything on its schedule, not require a bouncy miracle to beat Boston College.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Such spectral doppelgängers stalk the living as grim omens of impending death.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
-
Studios could all use that sort of good news, and good omens for the rest of summer movie season.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The highest chance to see the phenomenon is forecast throughout northern Canada and Alaska.—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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In 2020, Miranda reflected on the Hamilton phenomenon in an interview with Rolling Stone.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Tort claims are typically filed as precursors to a potential lawsuit.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2025
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Gleason worked as a senior adviser to the U.S. Digital Service, the precursor to DOGE.—
Melissa Quinn
May 21,
CBS News,
21 May 2025
Noun
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The parallels with the film inspired both of us to embrace the present with more wonder and gratitude and look to the future not only with a stronger father-daughter bond, but with more hope and adventure about what else is out there.—
Melody Chiu,
People.com,
24 May 2025
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Getting up close to these natural wonders is a must, which Telluride’s accessible trails make easy.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Markets test Trump As stocks whipsawed this month, volatility gripped Treasuries and the dollar broadly weakened, leaving investors wondering whether this was just a bout of extreme abnormality or a foreshadowing of more turmoil to come.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
30 Apr. 2025
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In a bit of foreshadowing, Minnesota set a school record when that half dozen went to the NFL Scouting Combine this winter, although that isn’t a one-to-one comparison.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Test yourself on treasured tunes and midwestern marvels in this week's American Culture Quiz.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2025
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The difference between a simple touch laptop and the technological marvel that is a 2-in-1 laptop is the, ta-da, the 360-degree hinge.—
Jade Chung-Lee,
PC Magazine,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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