# ominous

/ˈɑmənəs/ (US) · /ˈɒmɪnəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ominous
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. threatening or worrying

adjective · CEFR B2

suggesting that something unpleasant or dangerous is about to happen.

For teachers: giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening or inauspicious.

- The dark, heavy clouds looked ominous as we started our hike.
- The sudden, ominous silence from the engine room suggested a mechanical failure far more serious than a simple blown fuse.

Usage: Often used to describe sounds, weather, or a heavy silence.

Teaching tip: While the root 'omen' can be positive or negative, 'ominous' is almost exclusively used for negative expectations.

### 2. relating to omens

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

connected to signs that predict the future.

For teachers: of or pertaining to an omen; serving as a sign of a future event, whether good or bad.

- The ancient priest studied the ominous flight of the birds.
- In classical literature, even a seemingly minor event could be interpreted as an ominous sign of the gods' shifting favour.

Usage: In modern English, this neutral sense is rare and usually replaced by 'portentous'.

Teaching tip: This is the original etymological sense, but it is rarely encountered outside of academic or historical texts.

## Examples

- The dark, heavy clouds looked very ominous.
- There was an ominous silence in the house when I realized the front door was wide open.
- The sudden drop in the stock market served as an ominous warning of the economic recession that would soon grip the entire nation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.