pregnant

adjective

preg·​nant ˈpreg-nənt 

1

: containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body : gravid

2

: full, teeming

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

• big
• caught
• enceinte
• expectant
• expecting
• gone
• gravid
• heavy
• quick [archaic]

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

The plaintiffs are the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians, two physicians and the four women testifying this week, who learned while pregnant that their fetuses were unlikely to survive. —Aria Bendix, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024

After all, large swaths of women aren’t trying to or able to get pregnant. —Pamela Paul, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

How to account for the emergence of the shy voter Many women have become concerned following several high-profile cases of pregnant women dying after being refused health care as a direct result of the landmark Dobbs ruling in 2022. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024

The Home and Away star, 37, is pregnant and expecting her first baby with husband and costar Luke Mitchell, 39, announcing the exciting news on her Instagram. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

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

Kids Definition

pregnant

adjective

preg·​nant ˈpreg-nənt 

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 

: containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body : gestating, gravid