Ominous
ˈɒmɪnəs
Definitions
Giving the impression that something bad is going to happen; serving as a sign of evil or trouble to come.
ˈɒmɪnəs
Giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening; inauspicious.
The ominous music in the film created a sense of foreboding.
💡 Simply: Imagine you see dark clouds rolling in, and you just *know* a storm is coming. That feeling that something bad is about to happen is what 'ominous' is all about!
👶 For kids: When something feels like something bad might happen, it's ominous. Like when the sky gets dark before a storm!
More Examples
An ominous silence fell over the courtroom as the verdict was read.
The weather forecast was ominous, predicting a severe storm.
The raven, perched on the statue, gave an ominous cry.
How It's Used
"The ominous clouds gathered overhead."
"The economic reports paint an ominous picture for the future."
"The silence in the room was ominous."
Idioms & expressions
ominous silence
A silence that suggests something bad is about to happen.
"An ominous silence fell over the room after the announcement."
ominous warning
A warning that suggests something bad will happen
"The storm clouds provided an ominous warning."
From Latin *ōminōsus* meaning 'full of foreboding', derived from *ōmen* meaning 'omen, sign'.
The word 'ominous' has been used since the early 17th century, often in literary contexts to describe a foreshadowing of misfortune.
Memory tip
Think of a 'mini-bus' bringing 'men' of bad tidings - 'ominous'.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: ōmen