portion

[ pawr-shuhn, pohr- ]

noun

1. a part of any whole, either separated from or integrated with it:

   I read a portion of the manuscript.

   Synonyms: segment, section

   Antonyms: whole

2. an amount of food served for one person; serving; helping:

   He took a large portion of spinach.

   Synonyms: ration

3. the part of a whole allotted to or belonging to a person or group; share.

   Synonyms: dividend, lot, quota, allotment

4. the part of an estate that goes to an heir or a next of kin.

   Synonyms: inheritance

5. Literary. something that is allotted to a person by God or fate.

   Synonyms: doom, destiny, lot, fortune

6. (especially formerly) the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband at marriage; dowry.

verb (used with object)

1. to divide into or distribute in portions or shares (often followed by out ).

   Synonyms: apportion, allot

2. to furnish with a portion, as with an inheritance or a dowry:

   All of his children have been amply portioned.

   Synonyms: endow

3. to provide with a lot or fate:

   She was portioned with sorrow throughout her life.

portion

/ ˈpɔːʃən /

noun

1. a part of a whole; fraction
2. a part allotted or belonging to a person or group
3. an amount of food served to one person; helping
4. law
   1. a share of property, esp one coming to a child from the estate of his parents
   2. the property given by a woman to her husband at marriage; dowry
5. a person's lot or destiny

verb

1. to divide up; share out
2. to give a share to (a person); assign or allocate
3. law to give a dowry or portion to (a person); endow

Derived Forms

• ˈportionless, adjective

Other Words From

• portion·a·ble adjective
• portion·less adjective
• re·portion verb (used with object)
• un·portion·a·ble adjective
• un·portioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of portion¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English porcion, from Old French, from Latin portiōn- (stem of portiō ) “share, part,” akin to pars part

Word History and Origins

Origin of portion¹

C13: via Old French from Latin portiō portion, allocation; related to pars part

Synonym Study

See part.

Example Sentences

Junior point guard Dylan Andrews, who sat out the Bruins’ victory over Boston University on Monday with a groin injury, remained sidelined for the portion of practice reporters were allowed to observe Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

To a sizable portion of members, the decision was an abomination, and it provoked a mutiny.

From Salon

Currently, treated effluent from the plant is released into the Los Angeles River in the Sepulveda Basin, providing a significant portion of the river’s flow in the area during dry times.

From Los Angeles Times

And to be sure, a significant portion of the viewing public scarfs these characters and their nasty business like candy corn.

From Los Angeles Times

The board will primarily be responsible for delivering services to the unincorporated portions of the county, legislating and holding the executive accountable.

From Los Angeles Times