birth 1 of 3

noun

ˈbərth How to pronounce birth (audio)
Definition of birthnext
1
as in nativity
the act or instance of being born almost from birth, he showed all the marks of future greatness

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2
as in ancestry
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended a man of noble birth

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3
as in beginning
the point at which something begins that 12-second flight by Orville Wright marked the birth of aviation

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birth

2 of 3

adjective

as in biological
being such by blood and not by adoption or marriage argued that the birth mother had not been informed of all of her options at the time of the adoption

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birth

3 of 3

verb

chiefly dialect
as in to produce
to bring forth from the womb back in those days a woman her age would have birthed several children

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of birth
Noun
On April 18, 2023, Willis' family grew by another little girl, as Rumer welcomed her baby girl through a home birth. — Kayla Grant, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025 The bottom line: Migration is a critical factor in sustaining Virginia's growth, especially in the state's more rural areas, where deaths are exceeding births. — Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Those were all Michelle MacDonald had to offer Minnesota other than a pro-gun, pro-birth agenda that in itself betrayed the commitment to objectivity and respect for the law that we are entitled to in all of our judges. — Star Tribune, 4 Nov. 2020 When the twins — son Eames and daughter Ellison — arrived eight weeks early on Jan. 11, 2021, a judge had not yet considered the pre-birth order, which later was denied. — Rachel Burchfield, Peoplemag, 20 Jan. 2023
Verb
So that is really how the Blakk Co. Social Club was birthed. — J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2025 Alternatively, the stellar remnant this creates can birth a 'daughter' remnant that has a mass over 1.4 times the mass of the sun. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for birth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for birth
  1. nativity
  2. ancestry
  3. beginning
  4. biological
  5. produce
  6. parenting
  7. lineage
  8. inception
Noun
  • Enjoy the garden of lights, indoor dramas in Legacy Hall, live nativity, Eden Zoo, playground and Encounter the Wonder SFX show.
    — Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 29 Dec. 2024
  • There is a large-scale nativity, Dickens-era carolers and the lighting of the tree, among other features.
    — Heather McRea, Orange County Register, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of nativity
Noun
  • These individuals appear to have merged with larger populations that were unrelated to the Xiongnu, many of them with European ancestry, forming a group with genetically diverse backgrounds, according to the study.
    — Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Certain genetic variants, or mutations, are often linked to ancestry, and some have been connected to poor health outcomes.
    — Leah Small, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2025
Definition of ancestry
Noun
  • The beginning really took place three or four weeks ago.
    — Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
  • This modest beginning took place in the midst of late Abstract Expressionism’s supremacy (Willem de Kooning was a favorite), Andy Warhol’s Factory, the countercultural music of artists like the Fugs, and the plentiful readings and parties of a vibrant downtown scene.
    — David S. Wallace, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of beginning
Adjective
  • My biggest concern is that an adult, biological male — that hasn’t transitioned — can freely access women’s bathrooms [and] locker rooms, putting their safety and privacy at risk.
    — Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Epigenetic aging The researchers tracked the biological age of people in their study by looking for subtle changes in their DNA after different periods of exposure to heat, from a few days of extreme temperatures to several years.
    — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of biological
Verb
  • The podcast network produces more than 100 hours of weekly content.
    — Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025
  • That hub’s work has produced over 100 research papers and patents.
    — Ian Sayson, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of produce
Noun
  • The recent release of Jonathan Haidt’s explosive bestseller, The Anxious Generation, has sent shockwaves through parenting communities worldwide.
    — MacKenzie Price, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Smith has since been released after serving seven months Comments Ashley Jones is keeping what's best for her daughter at the forefront of her parenting priorities.
    — Angela Andaloro, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of parenting
Noun
  • Scientifically known as Otodus megalodon, the Neogene-era shark is estimated to have reached lengths of 50 to 65 feet (15 to 20 meters) and once belonged to a lineage of sharks that evolved during the Cenozoic era, becoming increasingly specialized for preying on and scavenging marine mammals.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Hartley, the son of a late Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, has a long lineage of family members who served in uniform, a fact Trump highlighted during his speech before letting Hartley know of the news of his acceptance.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of lineage
Noun
  • This program has provided life-saving HIV/AIDS care to low-income countries since 2003, and has saved more than 26 million lives since its inception.
    — Omer Awan, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Over the past nearly 20 years since its inception, BlizzCon has inspired us to innovate, push the boundaries of creativity, and deliver once-in-a-lifetime moments.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of inception

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Cite this Entry

“Birth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/birth. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on birth

Nglish: Translation of birth for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about birth

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