An omenAn event or thing thought to warn about a future occurrence. is a sign that people believe shows what is going to happen. It is often used for something that seems to predictTo say what will probably happen before it does. good or bad eventsThings that happen, especially important or notable occurrences..
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈoʊmən/
Easy pronunciation: OH-men (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: OH-men.
Noun meaning a sign of something about to happen.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Omen Meaning
a sign that seems to predict the future
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a sign of something about to happen
Example: She saw the dark clouds as an omen of bad weather.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- portent — A strong substitute in this sense, especially for a sign of an important event.
- presage — Works as a noun for a sign that something is coming.
- prognostic — A formal word for a sign or indication of what may happen.
- prognostication — Can mean a sign or prediction, but is more formal and less common.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Omen
Meaning 2
to be a sign of something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: indicate, as with a sign or an omen
Example: The sudden silence omened trouble ahead.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- augur — A genuine verb synonym meaning to signal or predict.
- betoken — A literary verb meaning to be a sign of something.
- bode — A common verb for suggesting what is likely to happen.
- foreshadow — Works when something hints at a later event.
- foretell — A broader verb for predicting or showing what will happen.
- portend — A strong verb meaning to be a sign of coming events.
- presage — Can also be used as a verb meaning to signal in advance.
- prognosticate — Usually means predict; less natural as a direct substitute in everyday speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Omen Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- portent
- presage
verb: indicate or be a sign of something
- augur
- betoken
- bode
- foreshadow
- foretell
- portend
- presage
- prognosticate
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse omen with a prediction or forecast.
- Do not use prodigy as a synonym for omen.
- The noun omen and the verb omen are different senses.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does omen mean?
An omen is a sign that is thought to show what will happen in the future.
What are some synonyms for omen?
For the noun, strong synonyms include portent and presage. For the verb, words like augur, bode, and portend can work.
Is omen usually good or bad?
It can be either, but it is often used for a warning sign or a bad event.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.