What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
portend
Example
The dark clouds portend a storm. [portend: verb]
Example
The sudden drop in the stock market portends an economic downturn. [portends: third person singular present tense]
presage
Example
The howling of the wolves presaged danger. [presaged: past tense]
Example
The sudden increase in crime rates presages a rise in social unrest. [presages: third person singular present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Portend is more commonly used than presage in everyday language. Portend is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while presage is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between portend and presage?
Presage is generally considered more formal than portend. While portend can be used in both formal and informal contexts, presage is more commonly used in formal or literary writing.
