plural births
1
a
: the emergence of a new individual from the body of its parent see also date of birth
b
: the act or process of bringing forth young from the womb
2
: a state resulting from being born especially at a particular time or place
a Southerner by birth
3
a
b
: high or noble birth
birthed; birthing; births
1
chiefly dialectal
: to bring forth
2
a
: to give rise to : originate
b
: to give birth to
: to bring forth or be brought forth as a child or young
: biological sense 3
his birth mother
Synonyms
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Examples of birth in a Sentence
Noun
He was present at the birth of his daughter.
The hospital reported an increase in premature births.
Please indicate your date of birth.
the period from birth to adolescence
a disease that is present at birth
the birth of the solar system
the birth of the blues
We are witnessing the birth of a new era.
Verb
back in those days a woman her age would have birthed several children
Adjective
argued that the birth mother had not been informed of all of her options at the time of the adoption
Recent Examples on the Web
Armond White, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024
Studies have shown that homelessness increases the chances of health complications for the mother and the child, including premature birth and newborns requiring intensive care.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
This book is not only a retelling of the crime—a story that Till’s family, among others, has already published—but also a rich and wandering history of the township in which Till died: the few square miles of plantations that helped birth both the blues and the Ku Klux Klan.
—The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Shani Silver, refinery29.com, 31 May 2024
The difference that doulas can make A doula — also known as a birth companion or post-birth supporter — provides physical, information, and emotional support to pregnant and postpartum people.
—Anika Nayak, STAT, 12 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for birth 
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Noun
The sordid origin story of infidelity that explains Elphaba’s birth and dysfunctional family taints everything that follows.
—Armond White, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024
Studies have shown that homelessness increases the chances of health complications for the mother and the child, including premature birth and newborns requiring intensive care.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
The film portrays the Mile End music scene that birthed artists like Mac DeMarco, Arcade Fire and Grimes, as Grace grapples with romantic obsession and finding her voice as a writer.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
This book is not only a retelling of the crime—a story that Till’s family, among others, has already published—but also a rich and wandering history of the township in which Till died: the few square miles of plantations that helped birth both the blues and the Ku Klux Klan.
—The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The pregnancy announcement, the gender reveal, the baby shower, the pregnancy photo shoot, the birth photo shoot, the post-birth photo shoot, the sip-n-see.
—Shani Silver, refinery29.com, 31 May 2024
The difference that doulas can make A doula — also known as a birth companion or post-birth supporter — provides physical, information, and emotional support to pregnant and postpartum people.
—Anika Nayak, STAT, 12 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for birth
Articles Related to birth
Dictionary Entries Near birth
Cite this Entry
“Birth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birth. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
birth
1 of 3 noun1
: the emergence of a new individual from the body of its parent
2
: the act or process of bringing forth young from the womb
birth
2 of 3 transitive verb
: to give birth to
allowed to birth her child in her own way—Nancy Robinson
Nancy Robinson
: to bring forth or be brought forth as a child or young
contend that birthing is a natural process, rather than a medical procedure—Kit Miniclier
Kit Miniclierthe baby birthed breech—Jayne Anne Phillips
Jayne Anne Phillipsbirth
3 of 3 adjective
: biological sense 3
spent years searching for his birth parents
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