Did you know?
It may seem like a stretch to say that portend, beloved verb of seers, soothsayers, and meteorologists alike, is related to tendon—the word we use to refer to the dense white fibrous tissue that helps us, well, stretch—but it’s likely true. Portend comes from the Latin verb portendere (“to predict or foretell”), which in turn developed as a combination of the prefix por- (“forward”) and the verb tendere (“to stretch”). Tendere is thought to have led to tendon, among other words. So you might imagine portend as having a literal meaning of “stretching forward to predict.” In any event, the history of the word surely showcases the flexibility of our language.
Examples of portend in a Sentence
Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Every week, there’s a new example of the upside-down logic at work in the White House: platitudes that say one thing, policies that portend another.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025
All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes pulled up lame, grabbed his right hamstring and displayed the sort of limp that portended a serious ailment.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 23 July 2025
The new record portends a wetter and rainier future that experts say is likely because of climate change.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for portend
Cite this Entry
“Portend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portend. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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portend
verb
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