1. serving as a warning or indication of something that will happen in the future, especially something bad or unpleasant
Usage: present participle of ‘portend’

Examples

• The dark clouds were portending a severe thunderstorm.
• Economic indicators are portending a possible recession.
• The strange behavior of the animals seemed to be portending an earthquake.
• Her worried expression was portending bad news.
• The declining test scores are portending problems in the education system.
• Ancient peoples believed that eclipses were portending disaster.