pregnant

adjective

preg·​nant ˈpreg-nənt 

1

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

2

: full, teeming

The moment was pregnant with excitement.

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 of pregnant

• expecting
• expectant
• with young
• with child
• caught

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

Also, women who are pregnant and their fetuses, children, older adults and people living with chronic conditions, especially heart and lung disease, may be physically more susceptible to the health impacts of air pollution than other adults, according to the American Lung Association. —Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026

The superseding indictment said Birchmore was between 8 and 10 weeks pregnant with a baby boy. —Neal Riley, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026

Sitting on the dais between her husband and pregnant White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the first lady appears to be engrossed in conversation. —Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026

From 1945 to 1971, pregnant mothers who wanted to prevent miscarriages were prescribed the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES). —Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for pregnant

• regnant
• nonpregnant

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