pregnant

[ preg-nuhnt ]

/ ˈprɛg nənt /

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See synonyms for pregnant on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having a child or other offspring developing in the body; with child or young, as a woman or female mammal.

fraught, filled, or abounding (usually followed by with): a silence pregnant with suspense.

teeming or fertile; rich (often followed by in): a mind pregnant in ideas.

full of meaning; highly significant: a pregnant utterance.

of great importance or potential; momentous: a pregnant moment in the history of the world.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of pregnant

1375–1425; late Middle English <Latin praegnant- (stem of praegnāns), variant of praegnās, equivalent to prae-pre- + *gnāt- (akin to (g)nātus born, gignere to bring into being) + -s nominative singular ending

OTHER WORDS FROM pregnant

preg·nant·ly, adverbpreg·nant·ness, noun

Words nearby pregnant

preggy, Pregl, preglacial, pregnable, pregnancy, pregnant, preheat, prehensible, prehensile, prehension, prehistoric

Other definitions for pregnant (2 of 2)

pregnant²

[ preg-nuhnt ]

/ ˈprɛg nənt /

adjective Archaic.

convincing; cogent: a pregnant argument.

Origin of pregnant

1350–1400; Middle English preignant<Old French, present participle of preindre, earlier priembre to press¹ <Latin premere.Cf. print

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pregnant in a sentence

The next year, she created her first hypnobirthing program for her pregnant daughter, Maura.
Marie Mongan, champion of hypnobirthing, dies at 86|Olesia Plokhii|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
She was 16 when she found out she was pregnant after having sex for the first time.
For a mother forced to give up her child, decades of grief, shame and secrets|Ellen McCarthy|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
Just in the past few days, the WHO has flip-flopped between not recommending pregnant people get the vaccine to fully supporting them in receiving the inoculation.
Pregnant people can—and should—get vaccinated against COVID-19|Sara Kiley Watson|February 3, 2021|Popular-Science
To boot, a survey of 20,000 mothers and pregnant women in June last year by the advocacy group Pregnant Then Screwed highlighted that 15% were made or being made redundant, with 46% of those naming lack of childcare as a factor.
‘It’s possible if done right’: Pandemic accelerates demand for flexible senior roles|Jessica Davies|February 3, 2021|Digiday

However, the pandemic, with its increased risks to pregnant women, seems poised to derail these trends.
What “baby bust”? New and soon-to-be parents on choosing to have kids in dark times|Chris Chafin|February 1, 2021|Vox
Sands was involved in a scandalous-for-the-time romance with the carpenter and there were rumors she was pregnant with his child.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I was pregnant, uncomfortably so, for the first time and with twins, due the following March.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Helicopters lifted pregnant women and children to safety first.
‘We’re Going to Die’: Survivors Recount Greek Ferry Fire Horror|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He beat me every day, even when I was seven months pregnant.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A dark minivan quickly fills with pregnant women and those carrying infants.
Inside the Smuggling Networks Flooding Europe with Refugees|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And this fact seemed pregnant with evidence as to Gordon's state of mind; it did not appear to simplify the situation.
Confidence|Henry James
The situation was too pregnant with tragedy for him to run away and leave the pair to deal with it as best they could.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Abraham, who was fond of travelling, went into the horrible desert of Kadesh with his pregnant wife, ever young and ever pretty.
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1 (of 10)|Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)
The Trades Union movement is one pregnant with promise for the future.
The Influence and Development of English Gilds|Francis Aiden Hibbert
Its influence was most positive, and pregnant with good at that critical period between school and manhood.
East Anglia|J. Ewing Ritchie

British Dictionary definitions for pregnant

pregnant

/ (ˈprɛɡnənt) /

adjective

carrying a fetus or fetuses within the womb

full of meaning or significance

inventive or imaginative

prolific or fruitful

Derived forms of pregnant

pregnantly, adverb

Word Origin for pregnant

C16: from Latin praegnāns with child, from prae before + (g) nascī to be born

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pregnant

Origin of pregnant

OTHER WORDS FROM pregnant

Words nearby pregnant

Other definitions for pregnant (2 of 2)

Origin of pregnant

Words related to pregnant

How to use pregnant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pregnant

Derived forms of pregnant

Word Origin for pregnant