portend

verb
UK: /pɔːˈtend/
US: /pɔːrˈtend/

  1. To suggest that something unpleasant is likely to happen in the future.

    1. The dark clouds portend rain later today.
    2. These recent events portend a significant shift in the company's direction, requiring careful observation.

  2. To be a sign or warning that something important or striking is likely to happen.

    1. Does this silence portend agreement or disagreement?
    2. The sudden drop in temperature may portend an early frost, impacting the harvest season.

Synonyms

indicate herald foreshadow presage bode promise augur

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "portend" in English means: To suggest that something unpleasant is likely to happen in the future., To be a sign or warning that something important or striking is likely to happen..

The phonetic transcription of "portend" is /pɔːˈtend/ in British English and /pɔːrˈtend/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "portend": indicate, herald, foreshadow, presage, bode, promise, augur.

Example usage of "portend": "The dark clouds portend rain later today.". More examples on the page.