pregnant

adjective

preg·​nant ˈpreg-nənt How to pronounce pregnant (audio)
Synonyms of pregnantnext
1
: containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body : gravid
2
: full, teeming
The moment was pregnant with excitement.
3
: rich in significance or implication
… the pregnant phrases of the Bible …—Edmund Wilson
a pregnant pause
4
: having possibilities of development or consequence : involving important issues : momentous
… draw inspiration from the heroic achievements of that pregnant age …—Kemp Malone
5
: abounding in fancy, wit, or resourcefulness : inventive
… all this has been said … by great and pregnant artists …—The Times Literary Supplement (London)
6
archaic : cogent
7
obsolete : inclined, disposed
… your own most pregnant and vouchsafed ear.—William Shakespeare
pregnantly adverb

Synonyms of pregnant

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Examples of pregnant in a Sentence

She got pregnant soon after her marriage. There was a pregnant pause before the winner was announced.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Letting mental health conditions go untreated is a risk to both the pregnant parent and the baby, Diaz Stransky said. — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026 That means naming pregnant women explicitly in heatwave guidance, revisiting the heat thresholds that trigger official alerts, and assessing whether maternity units themselves can cope as temperatures rise. — Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 No one blinks at a pregnant Sarah constantly running through hails of gunfire — sans prenatal vitamins or a home. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026 The Grammy-winning gospel singer, 38, is pregnant, expecting her second baby with husband Orlando Palmer, sharing the exciting news with PEOPLE exclusively. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pregnant

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin praegnant-, praegnans carrying a fetus, alteration of praegnas, from prae- pre- + -gnas (akin to gignere to give birth to) — more at kin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Time Traveler
The first known use of pregnant was in the 14th century

Rhymes for pregnant

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Browse Nearby Words

pregnancy test
pregnant
pregnantly
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Cite this Entry

“Pregnant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pregnant. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pregnant

adjective
preg·​nant ˈpreg-nənt How to pronounce pregnant (audio)
1
: containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body
2
: full of meaning
a pregnant pause
pregnantly adverb

Medical Definition

pregnant

adjective
preg·​nant ˈpreg-nənt How to pronounce pregnant (audio)
: containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body : gestating, gravid

More from Merriam-Webster on pregnant

Nglish: Translation of pregnant for Spanish Speakers

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