ominous
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
suggesting that something unpleasant or dangerous is about to happen.
giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening or inauspicious.
Simple“The dark, heavy clouds looked ominous as we started our hike.”
In context“The sudden, ominous silence from the engine room suggested a mechanical failure far more serious than a simple blown fuse.”
UsageOften used to describe sounds, weather, or a heavy silence.
Teacher's tipWhile the root 'omen' can be positive or negative, 'ominous' is almost exclusively used for negative expectations.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
connected to signs that predict the future.
of or pertaining to an omen; serving as a sign of a future event, whether good or bad.
Simple“The ancient priest studied the ominous flight of the birds.”
In context“In classical literature, even a seemingly minor event could be interpreted as an ominous sign of the gods' shifting favour.”
UsageIn modern English, this neutral sense is rare and usually replaced by 'portentous'.
Teacher's tipThis is the original etymological sense, but it is rarely encountered outside of academic or historical texts.
Synonymspropheticportentous
“Here, Magnus Coffinkey, a man who makes a living fixing bells, climbs a tower to complete the most difficult job of his career, one made harder by ominous gargoyles and bats.”
From Latin ōminōsus (“full of foreboding”), from ōmen (“forbidden fruit, omen”), from Old Latin osmen, of uncertain origin, with many origins proposed (see ōmen).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.