Search results
- Dictionaryportentous/pɔːˈtɛntəs/
adjective
- 1. of or like a portent; of momentous significance: "this portentous year in Canadian history" Similar
Powered by Oxford Dictionaries
1. : of, relating to, or constituting a portent. suspense, portentous foreshadowing, hints of sinister and violent mysteries Francine Prose. 2. : eliciting amazement or wonder : prodigious. 3. a. : being a grave or serious matter. portentous decisions. b. : self-consciously solemn or important : pompous.
PORTENTOUS definition: 1. too serious and trying to be very important: 2. Portentous events, statements, or signs are…. Learn more.
Portentous definition: of the nature of a portent; momentous.. See examples of PORTENTOUS used in a sentence.
PORTENTOUS meaning: 1. too serious and trying to be very important: 2. Portentous events, statements, or signs are…. Learn more.
Definition of portentous adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Something that is portentous often seems to hint at or warn of a future disaster. For example, in a movie ominous music playing in the background while someone turns a dark corner can have a portentous quality, predicting doom for the hapless character.
If someone's way of speaking, writing, or behaving is portentous, they speak, write, or behave more seriously than necessary because they want to impress other people. [ formal , disapproval ] There was nothing portentous or solemn about him.
If someone's way of speaking, writing, or behaving is portentous, they speak, write, or behave more seriously than necessary because they want to impress other people.
adj. 1. of the nature of a portent; momentous. 2. ominously significant or indicative: a portentous defeat. 3. solemnly self-important; pompous. 4. marvelous; amazing; prodigious. [1530–40; < Latin portentōsus. See portent, -ous] por•ten′tous•ly, adv.
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English por‧ten‧tous /pɔːˈtentəs $ pɔːr-/ adjective 1 literary showing that something important is going to happen, especially something bad Recent developments are as portentous as the collapse of the Berlin Wall. 2 trying to appear important and serious a portentous film Examples from the ...
