give birth to

1. Bear a child, as in She gave birth to her first child exactly at midnight . [Early 1800s]

2. 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

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.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 39-year-old had been told she would have to give birth to her stillborn daughter, who was called Olivia, and was given medication to bring on the labour.

Read more on BBC

William Mulholland, the man who brought in Owens Valley water in 1913, told a committee that sought his candidacy: “Gentlemen, I would rather give birth to a porcupine backwards than be mayor of Los Angeles.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Patricia Roisinblit was kept alive long enough to give birth to her son in a basement.

Read more on BBC

But he had no idea that season would give birth to the most dominant force in the history of club soccer — and perhaps the most dominant force in the history of international sports.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• build 
• conceive 
• construct 
• design 
• devise 
• discover 
• establish 
• forge 
• form 
• found 
• generate 
• initiate 
• invent 
• make 
• organize 
• plan 
• produce 
• set up 
• shape 
• spawn