portion
PAW-shuhn
Portion (noun) means a part or share of something larger. Example: “She ate only a small portion of her dinner.”
noun
1
A part or share of something larger.
"She ate only a small portion of her dinner."
"A large portion of the budget goes toward marketing."
"Only a portion of the garden gets any sun in winter."
2
One's fate or lot in life.
"He accepted hardship as his portion in life."
"Poverty was the portion of many families in that village."
"She felt that loneliness had been her portion for far too long."
verb
1
To divide something into shares.
"The chef portioned the stew into individual bowls."
"Mum portioned the pie into six equal slices."
"Please portion out the rice so everyone gets enough."
How to use portion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA part or share of a whole thing, or to divide something into shares.
Common pairings
a portion of
portion out
a small portion
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Word forms
- Plural
- portions
- Third person singular
- portions
- Past tense
- portioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She ate only a small _____ of her dinner.
Etymology
From Old French porcion, from Latin portionem ("a share, part"), related to pars ("part").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for portion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for portion →
Frequently asked questions
What does “portion” mean?
The word “portion” means a part or share of something larger. In plain terms, a part or share of a whole thing, or to divide something into shares.
How do you pronounce “portion”?
“Portion” is pronounced PAW-shuhn (/ˈpoɹʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “portion” in a sentence?
Here is “portion” used in a sentence: “She ate only a small portion of her dinner.”
What is another word for “portion”?
Words with a similar meaning to “portion” include apportion, divide, divide up, divvy and divvy up.
What part of speech is “portion”?
Depending on how it is used, “portion” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “portion” come from?
The word “portion” comes from Latin. From Old French porcion, from Latin portionem ("a share, part"), related to pars ("part").
Is “portion” a common word?
“Portion” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “portion” have?
“Portion” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a part or share of something larger.
What is the difference between a portion and a serving?
A portion is simply a part or share of something larger, so it can be any size. A serving is a specific, recommended amount of food, often defined by a nutrition guide or recipe. Your portion on the plate might be bigger or smaller than one official serving, which is why the two are easily confused.
What is an example of a portion?
A slice cut from a pizza is a portion of the whole. So is the share of a bill you agree to pay, or the section of a book you read in one sitting. Any time something larger is divided into parts, each part is a portion — whether it is food, money or work.
Does "portion" only refer to food?
No. Portion often appears in cooking — a portion of rice or cake — but it applies to anything divisible. You can inherit a portion of an estate, complete a portion of a task, or set aside a portion of your income. At heart it just means a part or share of a larger whole.
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