give birth to
Idioms-
Bear a child, as in She gave birth to her first child exactly at midnight . [Early 1800s]
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Also, give rise to . Be the cause or origin of. For example, His hobby gave birth to a very successful business , or The economic situation gave rise to widespread dissatisfaction . The first term dates from the early 1700s, the second from the late 1700s.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Seals rely on pack ice to give birth, to rest and for protection.
From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026
Moore worked at Les Deux Cafés until she was about to give birth to her first child.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026
He sued Bardot for emotional damage when she published an autobiography in which she stated that she would have preferred to "give birth to a little dog".
From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025
The wellness author, picked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be surgeon general, was due to give birth to her first child Tuesday, just days before her expected virtual Senate confirmation hearing Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025
I tolt her, “Well, I gotta say if you and him didn’t favor one the ’nother so much, I wouldn’t never thought you give birth to him.
From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
