B2noun2K

Portion

UK /["/ˈpɔːʃn/"]/US /["/ˈpɔːrʃn/"]/

Definition

one part of something larger

In simple words: a part of something larger

Examples

  • I only ate a small portion of the pie, as I wasn't really hungry.
  • It's important to control the portion sizes to maintain a healthy diet.
  • The teacher said she would allocate a portion of the budget for the new project.
  • We received a generous portion of the funding for our research.
  • Each guest was served a portion of the main dish along with a side salad.

Usage notes

Use 'portion' when you refer to a part of food, quantity, or share. It's neutral and suitable for everyday conversations and formal writing. Avoid using it when discussing something that can't be divided easily.

Grammar pattern

portion + of + object

Memory hint

Think of 'portion' as 'portion size' — imagine measuring out food on a scale.

Collocations

  • considerable
  • good
  • huge
  • make up
  • take up
  • portion of
  • double
  • generous
  • large
  • eat
  • portion of
  • divide something into portions
  • considerable
  • good
  • huge
  • make up
  • take up
  • portion of

Synonyms

  • share

Antonyms

  • whole
  • entirety
  • total

Common mistakes

  • Using 'portion' with plural nouns (e.g., 'portions of food' is correct, but don't say 'portion of foods').
  • Confusing 'portion' with 'proportion', which refers to a ratio.
  • Using 'portion' when referring to an entire object instead of a part.