What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
protend
Example
The dark clouds protend a storm is coming. [protend: verb]
Example
His frown protended trouble ahead. [protended: past tense]
portend
Example
The sudden drop in the stock market portends an economic recession. [portends: present tense]
Example
The eerie silence in the forest portended danger. [portended: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Portend is more commonly used than protend in everyday language. Portend is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while protend is less common and often used in literary or poetic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between protend and portend?
Both protend and portend are formal words, but protend may sound more archaic or poetic due to its less common usage.
